Student-run food club fights hunger in rural Michigan

Gateway to Success Academy in Scottville, Michigan, is tackling food insecurity through a student-run food club. Housed in a small 357-square-foot space, the club operates like a mini grocery store where students shop twice a week using a point system. Volunteers, such as 10th-grader Bella VonDrak, help run the store and learn budgeting, cooking basics, and communication skills.

Located in a food desert, G2S partners with Ludington’s Lakeshore Food Club, which supplies groceries and covers the program’s costs. Much of the food comes from local farmers, helping support Michigan agriculture while meeting students’ needs.

Since launching in 2024, student attendance is up 40 percent, with noticeable improvements in grades and engagement. The food club helps remove the stigma of food insecurity and creates a sense of community.