Today kicks off the 19th annual "Michigan Harvest Gathering - State Employees Campaign." Each year, state employees have been helping to make a difference in our communities by generously giving food and funds during the campaign. And once again, I want to ask you to help "Fill Michigan's Fridge."

"Fill Michigan's Fridge" is a new interactive feature offering an easy and unique online food drive that provides you the option of making a monetary donation via www.feedmichigan.org. It allows you to choose what food items you would like to purchase with your donation.

Boxes for collecting non-perishable food items and pledge cards for tax-deductible monetary donations will also be available within each state department. Be watching for fun activities planned by agency representatives to help increase donations. We hope to surpass last year's generous state employee donations of 63,742 pounds of food and $57,922. The 2009 Michigan Harvest Gathering - State Employees' Campaign ends on October 28.

The face of hunger includes working families who have to choose between paying rent, seeking medical attention, heating homes, buying food for the table, and seniors who are choosing between buying prescription medication or food. These individuals and families, including growing children who are lacking adequate nutrition, are facing overwhelming challenges while struggling to make ends meet.

Food and funds collected through the Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign will benefit the Food Bank Council of Michigan's member food banks and more than 2,500 community agencies throughout the state. All food donations go directly to local food banks, and all donated funds are directly used to purchase food items and pay for their transport. It is anticipated that more than one million Michigan residents will need the services offered by a local food bank this year.

Please consider participating in food and fundraising activities in your department and supporting this cause to eliminate hunger in our state. In addition to purchasing Michigan foods for ourselves and our families, we can "Buy Fresh, Buy Local, Give Local" by contributing Michigan foods to local food banks. In doing so, we help our neighbors in need and provide access to fresh, local, healthy food to Michigan residents.

For more information about the Michigan Harvest Gathering, contact your department coordinator or Tammy Martin, Michigan Harvest Gathering - State Employees' Campaign Coordinator at 517-373-9750.

Thank you again for your tremendous support of the Michigan Harvest Gathering campaign and for selecting Michigan. With your continued participation and support, we will be able to one day say that we eliminated hunger in our state. Together, we can make a difference.

Sincerely yours,
Jennifer M. Granholm
Governor