On a cold December afternoon, boxes and bags of canned goods, pasta, cereal, and other pantry staples poured into Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry in Taylor, not from corporations or large institutions, but from local students determined to make a difference.
The delivery marked the culmination of the first-ever Food Drive Face-Off, a friendly competition among Downriver schools designed to combat food insecurity during one of the most challenging times of the year. The initiative was spearheaded by Watch Us Grow Pediatrics in partnership with Fish & Loaves Community Food Pantry, bringing together healthcare, education, and community service in a uniquely local collaboration.
In its inaugural year, the Food Drive Face-Off collected more than 400 pounds of food from participating schools in Grosse Ile, Southgate, and Woodhaven-Brownstown. Grosse Ile emerged as the winner, contributing an impressive 238 pounds – more than half of the total collected…