In Episode 185 of Welcome to Livingston, Don and Angela Putkela sit down with Yvonne Cavalli and Tina Thalacker from Bountiful Harvest, located in the heart of Brighton, Michigan.

What started 15 years ago with a loaf of bread at a local church has grown into a fully volunteer-run organization serving over 25,000 people in 2025, with programs ranging from a client-choice grocery pantry and daily hot meal delivery to a pet food pantry, free laptops for kids, and a clothing pantry stocked with quality donations. With no payroll and no government grants, every single dollar given to Bountiful Harvest goes directly back to the community.

Yvonne and Tina share the heart behind everything they do, the dignity they strive to give every person who walks through their doors, and the remarkable ways Livingston County businesses and neighbors show up for one another. If you've ever wanted to get involved or just learn more about what's happening right here in our community, this is the episode for you.

03:06 Addressing Community Needs and Dignity

10:04 Ways to Help and Donate

16:59 The Pet Pantry and Chewy Partnership

22:18 Meat Bingo Fundraiser

24:48 Food Bank vs. Pantry & Impact

32:53 Operational Hours and Healthy Meals

36:06 Needed Donations

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Guest links

Website: https://bountifulharvest-mi.org/

Donate Link: https://bountifulharvest-mi.org/make-a-difference/#donate

Phone: 810-360-0271