Lakeshore Food Club
LUDINGTON — The Lakeshore Food Club has recently purchased a cold storage facility in Hart, officially launching the Lakeshore Regional Food Hub, which will serve as a food aggregation and distribution center meant to enhance its operations in Mason County and surrounding communities.
“This project has been three years in the making—a vision shaped by our board, our staff, and the people we serve,” said O’Nealya Gronstal, executive director of Lakeshore Food Club. “While the Hart location sits just outside Mason County, its purpose is rooted in our commitment to Mason County and the desire to serve it even better—especially the outlying areas of eastern and northern Mason County that have long faced access barriers.”
Gronstal said the hub is more than a warehouse.
“This turn-key facility includes built-in refrigeration systems and commercial food processing space, enabling Lakeshore Food Club to dramatically scale up its ability to rescue, store, process, and distribute more fresh food than ever before,” she said. “The facility will serve as a critical operations hub to support food security efforts across a three-county region—starting with serving Mason County better.”
From the flagship Ludington food club location, 920 E. Tinkham Ave., to the Lakeshore Food for Kids backpack program and school-placed food clubs in Scottville at Gateway to Success Academy and Mason County Central Schools (set to open in September 2025), Lakeshore Food Club has grown to meet the needs of over 2,800 households annually, Gronstal said.
“The Lakeshore Regional Food Hub ensures these programs can expand without sacrificing quality or dignity,” she said.
This milestone was made possible by the support of three key partners: the Community Foundation for Mason County, which provided two years of catalytic grant funding to launch this project; the Michigan Health Endowment Fund, whose investment reflects our shared commitment to long-term health equity in rural Michigan; and the Michigan Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (MDARD), through their newly established Food Hub and Farm Stop Grant program.
The Lakeshore Regional Food Hub positions Lakeshore Food Club to:
- Expand food access across all corners of Mason County, especially under-resourced rural areas
- Strengthen and scale school-based food clubs and the Lakeshore Food for Kids backpack program
- Improve food storage, procurement, and aggregation capacity
- Rescue and process more food through commercial prep space
- Build a regional model of dignified food access that meets the needs of Oceana and Lake Counties
- Increase our impact on the local economy by enabling greater investment in Michigan-grown food and expanding purchasing partnerships with area farmers and producers
“To our donors, partners, and neighbors—thank you,” said Gronstal. “Because of you, we are entering a new chapter with greater capacity to serve and reinvigorates our efforts to expand dignified access to those in need. This isn’t just growth—it’s transformation. And we promise to steward it with the same integrity and care that has always defined Lakeshore Food Club.”
To support the Lakeshore Regional Food Hub, donations can be made in two ways:
- By check: Please make checks payable to Lakeshore Food Club with “Food Hub” noted in the memo line.
- Through the Community Foundation for Mason County: Gifts can be directed to the Lakeshore Food Club Fund to ensure your contribution supports the long-term success of the Food Hub initiative.
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