Member farms of Michigan Allied Poultry Industries are continuing a long history of supporting local organizations by donating eggs during the COVID-19 pandemic. Three farms also donated personal protective equipment to local hospitals, nonprofits and first responders. 

“We can see how much this pandemic is affecting our neighbors and our state, and we want to help as much as we can,” says Paul Vande Bunte, president of Konos Inc. “While we know that grocery stores need to keep shelves stocked with eggs, it’s just as important for us to take care of our community members struggling at this time, as well as help protect those on the front lines fighting this outbreak.” 

The pandemic donation is an extension of ongoing outreach. In 2019, MAPI member farms donated more than 5 million eggs to food pantries, ministries, food drive events and families in need for a grand total of 445,767 dozen — or 5,349,204 — eggs donated. 

MAPI member farms that contributed to the donation amount include DeWeerdt Poultry Farm, Farm Crest Foods, Herbruck’s Poultry Ranch, Schipper Eggs, Sunrise Acres Egg Farm, VandeBunte Eggs and Zoet Poultry.

Donations are going to hospitals, first responders and nonprofits across the state, including LOVE Inc., Holland Rescue Mission, Holland Food Bank, Hungry For Christ, Thumb Breadbasket, Feeding America West Michigan, Food Bank of Eastern Michigan, Mel Trotter, and other local food pantries and nonprofits. 

“We’re incredibly proud of Michigan’s family-owned egg farms, for not only continuing donations as retail demand increases, but also donating other much-needed goods to keep essential workers in our community safe,” MAPI Executive Director Allison Brink says. “Nutritious local food, like eggs, are a staple of a healthy and balanced diet, and especially important in times of crisis, where budgets and food supplies can decrease. Our farms want to make sure that we’re extending that access to as many people in our community as possible.” 

Michigan is sixth in the nation for egg production, with eight family-owned farms and 15 million egg-laying hens, predominately located in West Michigan. The egg industry has a total of $655 million in economic impact in the state of Michigan, producing 3.8 billion eggs in Michigan every year. 

Source: MAPI, which is solely responsible for the information provided and is wholly owned by the source. Informa Business Media and all its subsidiaries are not responsible for any of the content contained in this information asset.