Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market teams up with Eastern Michigan University to support Swoop’s Student Food Pantry

Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market teams up with Eastern Michigan University to support Swoop’s Student Food Pantry
Swoop's Student Food Pantry was founded by EMU student Haley Moraniec.

YPSILANTI – Eastern Michigan University and Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market, a rapidly growing Midwest specialty retailer focused on value-priced fresh, healthy and organic offerings, are teaming up to help students in need of food assistance.

EMU and three Fresh Thyme locations – Ypsilanti, Canton and Northville – will collaborate from Monday, Oct. 9 through Sunday, Oct.15 to collect food, supplies and funds for Swoop’s Student Food Panty at the University.

Fresh Thyme logo and Swoop's Pantry logoSwoop's Student Food Pantry, located in Pierce Hall, is a campus-based organization that provides Eastern students with food, home supplies and other resources to positively impact their well-being and college success.

During the week, each of the three stores will have tables where guests will receive a “top 10” list of items needed at the pantry that they can then purchase in the stores. Items will be collected at the stores and delivered by Fresh Thyme employees to the food pantry. Store employees will be wearing special t-shirts representing the collaboration, with the message: “Working together to support our communities.”  

On Sunday, Oct. 15, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Fresh Thyme will have a fun Brats for a Buck cookout event at all three of the participating Fresh Thyme locations. All proceeds from the event will be donated to the food pantry, which will be used to purchase perishable goods (milk, bread, etc.) for students who visit the pantry.

The Ypsilanti store is located at 2985 Washtenaw Road, and store manager Scott Schauer and assistant manager Ben Ondreyka are both graduates of Eastern Michigan University. The Northville store is located at 15480 Sheldon Road and the Canton location is at 43480 Ford Road.

Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market seeks to improve the way communities eat by offering healthy and organic products and groceries at affordable prices. The brand is also passionate about their connections to the local communities they serve, from stocking local products and produce to hiring local residents and partnering with non-profit efforts that benefit residents.

“We’re so appreciative of this partnership with Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market,” said Haley Moraniec, founder of Swoop’s Student Food Pantry and a graduate student in social work at Eastern Michigan. “We continue to receive such great community and campus support. Efforts such as this are so important in furthering our mission to help students in need with food and resources that can enhance their success in college.”

About Eastern Michigan University

Founded in 1849, Eastern is the second oldest university in Michigan. It currently serves 22,000 students pursuing undergraduate, graduate, specialist, doctoral and certificate degrees in the arts, sciences and professions. In all, more than 300 majors, minors and concentrations are delivered through the University's Colleges of Arts and Sciences; Business; Education; Health and Human Services; Technology, and its graduate school. EMU is regularly recognized by national publications for its excellence, diversity, and commitment to applied education. For more information about Eastern Michigan University, visit the University's website.

About Fresh Thyme Farmer’s Market

Fresh Thyme Farmers Market is a full-service specialty retailer focusing on value-priced fresh, healthy, natural and organic offerings. It boasts an extensive produce department with organic and local fruits and vegetables, a natural meat department, healthy deli foods to go, bakery goods, 400 bulk food bins, dairy and frozen, health supplement products, and its own line of organic and natural private label products. Learn more at freshthyme.com. Keep in touch by liking us at facebook and following us on twitter.

October 08, 2017

Written by:
Geoff Larcom

Media Contact:
Geoff Larcom
glarcom@emich.edu
734-487-4400