Inside Michigan’s First School-Based Food Club: A New Model for Ending Hunger

In a season marked by government shutdowns and growing food insecurity, a small farming town in southwest Michigan is proving that community innovation can feed hope—one school-based grocery store at a time.

The Centreville School Food Club looks like a regular grocery store, but it’s run by students, funded by the community, and open to all families. It’s part classroom, part community project, and part movement toward a more dignified way of addressing hunger.

“This isn’t about charity,” said Centreville Superintendent Chad Brady. “It’s about dignity, education, and community. It’s about making sure kids and families have what they need—and that they can access it without stigma.”

From Farm Bureau to Food Club

The idea began at the Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies, a statewide agricultural membership organization and insurance company representing Michigian farmers across the state. In 2020, the Farm Bureau made childhood food insecurity its social mission, learning through research that traditional food pantries—though vital—often carried a sense of stigma.

“There’s a lot of hesitancy to opt into the systems. Parents told us it’s often hard to ask for help because of the stigma. In a lot of these rural communities you might attend church who work for the same food pantry that you need to rely on.” said Audrey Carey, who helps lead the effort. “We needed a model that offered ownership, not shame.”

That led the organization to explore food clubs: typically, they are nonprofit grocery stores that use a membership or point system, allowing families to shop for what they need while maintaining dignity and choice. Items are priced based on nutritional content. A banana might cost you one point, and a bag of chips might cost 4 points to encourage healthy food choices. 

When Farm Bureau sought a school partner to pilot a new version of this model, Larry Walton—who serves on the boards of both Centreville schools and the Michigan Farm Bureau—immediately thought of his district. “I texted Chad during the meeting and said, ‘What do you think?’. We’ve all worked together since then.”

A Classroom That Feeds

Centreville’s agricultural roots made it an ideal testing ground. Agriculture teacher Jenny Troyer quickly saw how it could tie into her program. “My students will grow vegetables both in soil and hydroponically,” she explained. “They’ll learn how to produce, manage, and distribute food—and they’ll see how their work directly supports local families.”

The Food Club will be entirely student-run for credit, with kids handling ordering, stocking, and even marketing. Community members are pitching in, too. One family donated a pig for the store; in addition to animals, others are offering produce and funding. “We’re finding more and more people who want to help,” Chad said. “It’s really become a community project.”

Beyond Charity, Toward Dignity

Every student in Centreville will have access to the Food Club, regardless of income. The Food Club will be as close to an actual grocery store as you can get - with the proper space, refrigeration etc. It’s taken about a year to get off the ground, with the store set to open within the next few months. 

The Farm Bureau provided startup funding, but the goal is long-term sustainability through local partnerships, donations, and the school’s own agricultural production. “If it weren’t for the Farm Bureau’s start-up funding and ideas helping us get this off the ground, it wouldn't exist,” Chad said. “But in the end, I think you’ll find this will be a Centreville initiative—owned and supported by our community.”

Community Impact and Hope

Though the Food Club hasn’t officially opened, excitement is spreading. Teachers and retired staff have volunteered to help. Local businesses are donating supplies. And the town’s farmers and local business partners are eager to contribute. “When I presented this to our staff, people got emotional,” Chad said. “They know the need is real…this is going to be a powerful thing for our community.”

Over half of Centreville’s students qualify for free or reduced lunch. There’s one food pantry in town, so those numbers speak to the real felt need. “If we can send kids home with a bag full of groceries and some meals they can cook with their families,” Chad said, “we’re giving them something more than food—we’re giving them stability.” 

Audrey noted that other Michigan food clubs have already shown impact. In another local community, student attendance rose by seven percent on the days the food club was open. “We’re eager to see what happens here and hope to see similar outcomes.”

For Larry, the meaning is simple: “This is about opportunity and hope. Opportunity for people to contribute, and hope that we can make life a little better for our kids and families.”

A Lesson in Understanding

Centreville school staff recently completed Think Tank’s Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE)—a simulation that helps participants understand the realities of living in poverty.

“Everyone thinks they understand poverty until they experience it,” Chad said. “COPE was a turning point. It made us realize how essential something like the Food Club could be.”

Jenny agreed. “You start to see how one setback—a car repair, a medical bill—can send a family into crisis,” she said. “That training connected empathy to action.”

A Model Worth Sharing

The Michigan Farm Bureau Family of Companies plans to document the Centreville project as a guide for other schools. “By the end of the 2025–2026 school year, we hope to have a playbook for others to follow,” Audrey said. “This model can work anywhere.”

Chad hopes it inspires others, too. “We’re just showing that a small town can lead big change,” he said. As Centreville prepares to open its doors, this small Michigan school is proving that when a community comes together, solutions grow stronger—and that sometimes, the best place to fight hunger is right down the hall from the classroom.

Learn More

At Think Tank, we believe lasting change begins with understanding. Our Cost of Poverty Experience (COPE) training helps communities and organizations listen to and learn from the stories of people who have experienced poverty—building empathy and equipping participants with practical strategies to create meaningful change.

To learn more about COPE or bring it to your organization, contact Think Tank today.