OTSEGO COUNTY — Consumers Energy has donated a new all-electric transit van to the Otsego County Food Pantry in Michigan to support their mission of feeding the community.
According to an April 25 news release, the food pantry will use the new Ford E-Transit van to pick up food, make deliveries and raise awareness of the pantry’s mission.
The van was paid for entirely by Consumers Energy and should lower the costs of powering the van using electricity versus gasoline.
“The volunteers of the food pantry are excited and grateful for this amazing resource and will continue to find ways to incorporate it into daily efforts to provide food for people who have need. The event was a great way to introduce the E-Van from Consumers Energy to the people that it will help us to serve,” Otsego County Food Pantry chairperson Rebecca Brown said. “Our community is so supportive and comes together to help one another. We have so many individuals, organizations and business partnerships that help us to address food insecurities. That need is real and constant, and we are thankful for all who assist in any way.”
“Consumers Energy is excited to use our expertise with electric vehicles to serve needs for people who live in Otsego County,” said Jeff Myrom, Consumers Energy’s director of electric vehicle programs. “We also hope this van provides an example of the ease and affordability that comes when clean vehicles hit the road every day.”
One of the food pantry volunteers cut the ribbon on the electric van Thursday at the start of its annual Community Food Drive event sponsored by the Gaylord Rotary and Gaylord Eagles. This year, in addition to food, raffles and entertainment, the event featured “Jam the Van” where attendees could donate shelf stable foods to fill the new E-van.
Consumers Energy offers help and cost savings for customers who are deciding to buy electric vehicles. The energy provider has helped thousands of EV owners through incentives for vehicle chargers at home, work and in public locations, plus rates that lower the cost for charging.
As part of that effort, Consumers Energy is also providing electric vehicles to churches, food pantries, and other nonprofit organizations to support them and the communities they serve.
Learn more: ConsumersEnergy.com/EV