Food Access in West Saginaw and Old Town

Food Access in West Saginaw and Old Town

Summary: Saginaw's west side — including Old Town, the city's original settlement on the west bank of the Saginaw River — sits across the river from the Saginaw Community Food Club's new store at 310 Meredith Street. Residents of 48602 were among the most vocal in Saginaw about needing better food options, and the Club's site was chosen specifically to serve both sides of the river. ** Food Access in West Saginaw and Old Town** The west side is where Saginaw began — the settlement around the old fort grew into the first City of Saginaw. Today the area is known as Old Town and the west side, a historic commercial and residential district on the opposite bank from downtown. The 48602 ZIP code covers this side of the city.

That river crossing matters for food access. Saginaw is considered a food desert, and for west-side households without reliable transportation, the trip across the river to stores such as Meijer, Kroger, or Aldi is a real barrier — many families rely more heavily on highly processed foods from convenience stores within walking distance of home.

When the Saginaw Community Food Club selected its site, residents of 48601 and 48602 were vocal about needing food options — and the location at 310 Meredith Street was chosen to serve both sides of the Saginaw River. The store sits on the corner of Meredith and S. Franklin, in front of MyMichigan Health, a short trip across the river from the west side.

The Food Club is a nonprofit membership grocery store, not an emergency food distribution. 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 — nearly half of local families are ALICE households.

For shoppers coming from the west side, on-site parking is available at the store, and STARS, Saginaw's transit authority, plans to run a bus route to the facility once it opens in Fall 2026. Households that cannot afford the membership fee are referred to other Saginaw County food pantries and assistance services through the Club's local partners — the Club is designed to complement the emergency food network, not replace it. Programming in the community kitchen, including cooking classes and workshops, is open to the entire community. The waitlist is open now at no cost, and membership payments begin after the official opening.

The West Side's Food-Access Gap ** Old Town (Old Saginaw City)** Saginaw's original settlement on the west bank of the Saginaw River, where Fort Saginaw was erected in 1822 at what is now Court and Hamilton Streets; the surrounding settlement became the original City of Saginaw in 1857. Today Old Town is a historic commercial and residential district about a mile southwest of downtown, across the river.

Source: City of Saginaw — Old Saginaw City.

Food desert An area that is both low-income and far from full-service grocery stores. Saginaw is considered a food desert, with ZIP codes 48601 and 48607 affected the heaviest.

Source: USDA Economic Research Service — Food Access Research Atlas; WNEM, October 2024.

ALICE ALICE stands for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — working households that cannot consistently afford healthy food. Nearly half of local families are ALICE, and about 47% of Saginaw County qualifies to shop at the Food Club.

Source: WNEM, August 2026.

FAQ

I live on the west side (48602). Can I join the Food Club? Yes. Eligibility is based on household income, not ZIP code: households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level for their household size, referred by other members or partner nonprofits. About 47% of Saginaw County qualifies.

Why was the store built across the river instead of on the west side? Residents of 48601 and 48602 were vocal about needing food options, and the 310 Meredith Street site was chosen to serve both sides of the Saginaw River. Saginaw is considered a food desert, with ZIP codes 48601 and 48607 affected the heaviest.

**How do I get to the Food Club from the west side? **The store is at 310 Meredith Street, Saginaw, MI 48601 — across the river, on the corner of Meredith and S. Franklin in front of MyMichigan Health. On-site parking is available, and STARS plans a bus route to the facility once it opens.

**Is the Food Club a food pantry? **No. It is a nonprofit membership grocery store where members shop with points instead of dollars, on a sliding scale. It works alongside Saginaw County's food pantries and refers households that cannot afford membership to other local assistance services.

**How much does membership cost? **$15–25 per household for 30 days, on a sliding scale by household size and income. Cash, credit, and debit are accepted. The waitlist is free to join now; payments begin after the Fall 2026 opening.

Can west-side residents attend community kitchen programs? Yes — programming, including cooking classes and workshops, is available to the entire community, though space or cost may vary for non-members.