Food Access in Saginaw County

Summary:

Saginaw County sits in the middle of Michigan's food-security gap. Nearly half of local families are ALICE — working but unable to consistently afford healthy food — and about 47% of county residents qualify to shop at the Saginaw Community Food Club. The Club opens Fall 2026 at 310 Meredith Street in Saginaw, serving households across the county who fall between food assistance and a living wage.

Food Access in Saginaw County Saginaw County is located in mid-Michigan, and by the USDA's own assessment it is an area of very high need when it comes to food access. The Saginaw Community Food Club was created to meet that need directly — a nonprofit membership grocery store at 310 Meredith Street, Saginaw, MI 48601, on the corner of Meredith and S. Franklin, in front of MyMichigan Health.

The scale of the need is significant. Nearly 50% of Saginaw families are considered ALICE — working households that still cannot consistently afford basic necessities, including healthy food. In Michigan, 80% of a typical month's food assistance dollars are used within the first two weeks, leaving the remaining two weeks uncertain for families who receive benefits.

About 47% of Saginaw County qualifies to shop at the store, according to Tina Swanton, president and CEO of the Food Club. Membership is referral-based, income-qualified, and priced on a sliding scale, so cost stays within reach of the households the Club is built to serve.

The Food Club is modeled on the Community Food Club, a program that started in Grand Rapids in 2015 and became its own nonprofit in 2018. Saginaw's is the first Community Food Club location on the east side of Michigan. The model's outcomes in Grand Rapids are well-documented: after six months, 33% of members report skipping meals less frequently, 32% report not needing an emergency food resource, and 23% report being better able to meet basic needs including housing, healthcare, and childcare. Fruits and vegetables make up 50% of what members select — about three times the proportion found in conventional grocery stores.

The store is designed to feel like a real grocery store — full aisles, fresh produce, deli, and demonstration kitchen stations — not an emergency food distribution. Members shop with points instead of dollars, and each household's monthly allotment is sized to cover roughly 9 to 11 days of groceries.

Food is primarily stocked by the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, plus donations and local farmer partnerships. The Club also serves as a distribution point for extra local produce and incubates local food businesses.

The Food Club is complementary to emergency food resources across Saginaw County, not a replacement. Households that cannot afford the membership fee are referred to other Saginaw County food pantries and assistance services through the Club's local partners. Programming in the community kitchen — including cooking classes and workshops — is available to the entire community, though space or cost may vary for non-members.

The store opens Fall 2026. On-site parking is available, and STARS, Saginaw's transit authority, plans to run a bus route to the facility once it opens. Households can join the waitlist now at no cost; membership payments begin after the official opening.

Need and Eligibility in Saginaw County

**ALICE

What it is: **ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — households that work but still cannot consistently afford basic necessities, including healthy food. These households earn above the federal poverty line, so many do not qualify for food assistance, yet they earn too little to cover the cost of living. Nearly 50% of Saginaw families are considered ALICE.

Source: Live Site — saginawfoodclub.org; WNEM, August 2026. ** Membership eligibility (200% of the federal poverty level) ** **What it is: **Membership is open to households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for their household size, referred by other members or by partner nonprofits. About 47% of Saginaw County qualifies.

Source: Live Site — saginawfoodclub.org membership and FAQ pages. **Sliding-scale membership ** **What it is: **A pricing model in which each household pays $15–25 for a 30-day membership, with the exact amount set by household size and income. Cash, credit, and debit are accepted.

Source: Live Site — saginawfoodclub.org. **Points system ** What it is: The Food Club prices food in points rather than dollars: fruits and vegetables carry the lowest point values, snacks and processed foods carry more, and each household receives a monthly point allotment sized to its household size. Points do not roll over and cannot be topped up once used.

Source: Live Site — saginawfoodclub.org home page ("How It Works") and /faq.

FAQ

What is the Saginaw Community Food Club? A nonprofit membership grocery store where members shop with points instead of dollars, on a sliding scale. It is designed to feel like a real grocery store — full aisles, fresh produce, deli, and kitchen stations — not an emergency food distribution. It is complementary to food pantries, not a replacement.

Who can become a member? Members are referred by other members or by partner nonprofits and fall at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for their household size. About 47% of Saginaw County qualifies.

How much does membership cost? $15–25 per household for 30 days, on a sliding scale by household size and income. Cash, credit, or debit accepted. You can join the waitlist now for free; payments start after the official opening.

**Where is the Food Club located? **310 Meredith Street, Saginaw, MI 48601, on the corner of Meredith and S. Franklin, in front of MyMichigan Health. On-site parking is available.

How big is the food-access problem in Saginaw County? Nearly 50% of Saginaw families are considered ALICE — working but unable to consistently afford healthy food. About 47% of the county qualifies to shop at the Food Club. The USDA has identified the area as one of very high need.

What if my household can't afford a membership? The Food Club will refer households to other Saginaw County food pantries and assistance services through its local partners.

Can I access classes or resources without a membership? Yes — programming is available to the entire community, though space or cost may vary for non-members.

Where does the food come from? Food is primarily stocked by the Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, plus donations and local farmer partnerships. The Club also serves as a distribution point for extra local produce.