Forgotten Harvest

Mission Statement
We are dedicated to relieving hunger in metro Detroit and preventing nutritious food loss.

Our Founder
Forgotten Harvest was founded in 1990 by Dr. Nancy Fishman who rescued and distributed food from the back of her Jeep to feed the hungry.

The Need
It’s estimated that food insecurity in the tri-county area a ected over 549,000 people in 2023, including more than 170,000 children and over 83,000 seniors. In the City of Detroit, nearly 50% of children under 18 live in poverty.

Millions of Pounds Rescued
Forgotten Harvest rescues and receives millions of pounds of food from over 700 unique donor locations annually. The food is donated free of charge by farms, manufacturers, dairies, wholesalers, grocers, entertainment venues, caterers, and more U.S. Health Department-approved sources, and is distributed free of charge to those in need of food assistance. In the last year (FY2023-2024), we rescued and redistributed over 44 million pounds of food.

Forgotten Harvest Rescue Fleet
On the road six days a week, our fleet of 54 rescue vehicles distributes food throughout the 2,000-square-mile tri-county area of Macomb, Oakland, and Wayne counties. 

Food Distribution Partners 
We serve as a lifeline of support to over 200 emergency food providers, including food pantries, shelters, soup kitchens, and faith-based organizations.

Volunteers
Last year (FY2023-2024), 30,361 volunteer visits and 101,474 hours of dedicated volunteer service helped Forgotten Harvest accomplish its mission. Volunteers are a crucial sector of the workforce that makes our mission possible, helping daily at our Distribution Center, Community Choice Market, Forgotten Harvest Farms, and mobile pantry sites to prepare, harvest, and distribute food for our neighbors in need.

Forgotten Harvest Farms
Forgotten Harvest Farms is situated on more than 100 acres of donated land in Fenton, Michigan with an annual yield surpassing 600,000 pounds of fresh, healthy produce. The passionate staff and volunteers at the farm grow and harvest crops such as potatoes, sweet corn, green beans, cabbage, collard greens, zucchini, watermelon, eggplant, chili peppers, and spinach. Forgotten Harvest Farms ensures metro Detroit families will consistently benefit from fresh, healthy foods that are often unavailable or unaffordable to them.

$1 Provides $7 dollars worth of groceries
Forgotten Harvest is one of the most e cient food rescue organizations in the U.S. Every $1 donated provides $7 worth of food or about 4 meals for those in need.