Choice Pantry Model in Lake County, Michigan

November 17, 2017

Video Transcript

Kendra Wills: We've been working on developing the Lake County Community Food Council and with MSU Extension we embrace the idea of capacity building. We embrace the idea that we are here to support the community we are not here to direct the community and that's where the food Council has really grown.

Lynne Mills: Everything started when we were invited to attend a food council meeting. And in that food council meeting we were approached by Michigan State University Extension to consider going to choice pantry. At first, we were not so sure about that.

Kathy Merchant: I was very skeptical. I was very apprehensive. I was from the old way of doing things and just handing out bags. I didn't know how this was going to come together. I found out that, yes, we are able to change, and change is good.

Lynne Mills: With their assistance we have come from giving food that they might use, to choosing food they will use.

Kendra Gibson: So, we started with MyPlate signage and started to educate people on the colors of the MyPlate and how the foods that they eat fit into that. And when I sit and watch people shopping in the pantry now, there's really a relationship where they greet people they welcome them in and there's education taking places. They walk down the aisle with them choosing foods and so it's really become very personalized for them.