Greater Lansing Food Bank receives fewer donations than last year; remains hopeful, thankful

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As students and East Lansing residents are enjoying the beginning of the holiday season, local food banks said the holiday cheer was felt through the number of donations received during the weekend, although numbers were slightly lower than last year.

Executive director of the Greater Lansing Food Bank Terry Link said donations to the organization, 5303 S. Cedar St., have been a little behind where they were last year following Thanksgiving weekend, but he still is hopeful for the coming weeks.

“I think we’re just a tad behind from last year, but we’re doing pretty well,” he said.

“Since it’s the season of giving, people do things for others. They are thankful for what they have and want to give back. It’s the giving spirit of the holiday.”

Link said the organization kicked off its annual Holiday Envelope Campaign in early November, and it will last until January to collect donations that account for more than half of the business’ yearly intake.

Economics professor Charles Ballard said the number of people donating this holiday season might decrease, but he doesn’t expect it to be a drastic change from previous years.

And people hurting from the economic recession might find another reason to donate, Ballard said.

He said if a donation is made to a qualified charity, the amount can be deducted from taxable income.

“If I give $100 to the Red Cross, it actually only costs me $72 because I can deduct it from federal taxes and (the government) gives me $28 back,” he said.

“Another thing is, you get tax deductions not only for cash, but also for bags of clothes and shoes that are donated to (places like) The Salvation Army.”

Despite some organizations reporting lower numbers, Mike Hayes, night director of the City Rescue Mission of Lansing, said some of the donations the organization received over Thanksgiving weekend were “amazing.”

The MSU greek system and East Lansing Police Department donated about 2,400 canned goods last week to the rescue mission, located at 607 E. Michigan Ave., in Lansing, Hayes said.

“I had no idea this was going to happen on top of everything else. We appreciate it,” he said.

The donations were part of a can drive headed by Kappa Kappa Gamma and the ELPD.

The sorority provided incentives, such as a $200 gift card to Buffalo Wild Wings, for the greek house that donated the most cans, Kappa Kappa Gamma philanthropy chair and human biology senior Annie Stevens said.

Delta Sigma Phi was the winner because fraternity members collected more than 500 canned goods, Stevens said.

“We really do care about helping out within our community,” she said. “By doing this, it shows we want to help others.”

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