Cars line up down the street for a special Easter food distribution for veterans on Wednesday at the Delta County Service Center in Escanaba. Veterans in need were given the fixing for a traditional Easter dinner — plus a few sweet treats — thanks to the support of local businesses during the food distribution, which was orchestrated by the Community Foundation for Delta County and the Escanaba Vet Center. (Photo by Ilsa Minor, Escanaba Daily Press)

ESCANABA — Veterans in need in Delta County will have a brighter Easter thanks to a food distribution that took place Wednesday in Escanaba.

Cars lined up down the street for the distribution, which was a joint effort between the Community Foundation for Delta County and the Escanaba Vet Center and was supported by a number of local businesses. As each car rolled up to be loaded with food, the veterans were thanked for their service.

“The Community Foundation Board of Trustees and staff are more than happy to do the work it takes to provide our Delta County veterans in need with food baskets for the Easter Holiday,” said Vice Board Chair for the Community Foundation Charlie Becker. “The Community Foundation’s Board of Trustees and staff have the utmost respect for all veterans and truly appreciate all they have done for us and out nation.”

To get the food baskets out to veterans in need, the Community Foundation reached out to the Vet Center, which in turn, reached out to local veterans to find out which veterans were in need of food for the upcoming holiday. The Vet Center then told the Community Foundation how many baskets would be needed.

“On behalf of needy Delta County veterans, Vet Center and myself, I cannot thank the Community Foundation for Delta County enough for all their hard work and generosity in providing much needed food baskets to our Delta County Veterans,” said Principal Staff Assistant and Office Manager for the Escanaba Vet Center.

“They organize everything from the food items needed for the baskets, arrange assembly and pick-up times, getting donations, paying for the food baskets and even help with the distribution,” he added.

The baskets themselves were filled with a variety of Easter foods including a ham shoulder, potatoes, sweet potatoes, gravy, coffee, cupcakes, and a Sayklly’s Easter egg.

Assisiting with the baskets and the distribution were the Seventh Day Adventist Food Pantry, which offered storage space for the items; Emler’s County Market, which supplied cupcakes; Walmart, which donated cupcakes, dinner rolls, and gravy and offered special pricing on other food basket items; Feeding America, which offered a special price for the hams; Sayklly’s Confectionery & Gifts, which supplied the chocolate Easter eggs; Meijer, which donated cupcakes and offered special prices on other food items; and Thrivent for gift cards directed by action team members and the DTE Foundation.

“It’s because of the Community Foundation for Delta County’s collaboration with the Escanaba Vet Center and (these) organization that we are able to give back to our Delta County Veterans in need this Easter holiday,” said Cheryl Andzejewski, executive director of the Community Foundation for Delta County.

“All of the hard work that goes into each basket is evidence of the Community Foundation for Delta County and their collaborative organizations’ respect and gratitude to our veterans. We are so thankful to you all,” said Reynolds.

Andzejewski had well-wishes to share not just to veterans, but to all of Delta County’s residents.

“On behalf of the Community Foundation for Delta County Board of Trustees and staff, I’d like to wish all of our veterans and (the) community, a happy, healthy, safe and enjoyable Easter holiday,” she said.