At the March 18^th meeting of Saginaw City Council, members approved the allocation of $100,000 in ARPA funding, as recommended by the ‘Food Access & Insecurity’ committee, for installation of bus shelters at the East Side Soup Kitchen, senior citizen high-rises, and low-income housing complexes in the City of Saginaw. STARS thanks the City of Saginaw for its support toward better access and infrastructure for seniors and other City residents.

The bus shelters also would lend to two new STARS programs under development, the “Senior Shopper” and “Grocery Getter” programs. These programs would make it easier and more convenient for riders to access healthy groceries. Funding for this project would come from the State of Michigan through a competitive grant that has not yet been awarded. The City’s support of these programs through these bus shelters greatly increases the likelihood that STARS could be awarded the State grant to fund the programs.

“I am beyond thankful to see the City investing in its infrastructure for riders. Our next step is to win the State grant for our grocery access ideas. Regardless of the outcome there, City Council just notched a win for access for seniors and others in Saginaw,” says Glenn Steffens, Executive Director of STARS.

“Having bus shelters in place at these strategic locations will make a huge difference for those who live there, especially those who may utilize the grocery buses STARS hopes to get,” says Mayor Pro Tem Annie Boensch, member of the Food Access & Insecurity committee.