Muskegon-area nonprofit expanding to offer monthly food pantry as need increases

Editor’s Note: This article was written by Reeths-Puffer High School student Maya Vandenbosch as part of the WOOD TV8 Football Frenzy Food Drive tailgate partnership with schools. It was edited by News 8 web staff.

NORTH MUSKEGON, Mich. — Muskegon-area native Rob Mathis and his wife Reyna got the idea for their nonprofit organization when they were watching the news around the time schools were closing in March 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

They were on the couch, wondering what they could do to help the families who would struggle. They knew there were many who depended on kids being fed breakfast and lunch at school.

They got to work. At first, friends they spoke to on Facebook came to their house with donations. Together, the group made lunches and dropped them off at bus stops and anywhere else they could for three months. After a while, there was a continuous supply of food. The operation became Citi Boi Corporation in North Muskegon.

“Economically, people are experiencing hard times with inflation and post-COVID. Prices of things have risen, including rent in housing,” Rob Mathis, now the director of the nonprofit, said.

He pointed to elderly people going to live with their children because they could no longer afford the place they had been living for years.

With the price of food up significantly, Citi Boi launched a mobile food pantry at the community United Methodist Church just down the street. The mobile pantry is held there every other month.

Rob Mathis said Citi Boi has served more and more zip codes — every other month, the numbers went up. For example, he said, one distribution day fed 108 families. The next time, it was 200.

November is going to be Citi Boi’s last mobile food pantry for this year. Starting in January, they will be held monthly, with the goal of helping more families.

“With food insecurity, many are experiencing it. A family pack of chicken used to cost $5 and now that same pack of chicken is about $8 to $10,” Rob Mathis said.

Mathis urged those who want to help to get involved with Citi Boi, pointing out that it is run completely by volunteers.

“Nobody here is paid. Nobody as long as I am living will get paid from this organization. It’s all about giving back to the community with your time and most importantly, what you bring to the organization,” Mathis, a retired military service member, said.

The nonprofit hosts fundraisers to pay for the pantry and storage units and draw in donations.

“It’s a financial burden that I took upon myself to start an organization and it’s just my way of giving back,” Rob Mathis said.

Citi Boi is hosting a Bad Mom Prom at the Greater Muskegon Woman’s Club Oct. 19. It’s a celebration of moms in the community who have to balance taking care of and feeding their families, shuttling their kids to events and keeping the household together. You can learn about the event and other Citi Boi events on its Facebook page .

Reeths-Puffer High School students gathered 550 pounds of food this week to donate to Citi Boi as part of the WOOD TV8 Football Frenzy Food Drive.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WOODTV.com.