Donations needed for MN FoodShare Month
March is Minnesota FoodShare Month, a very important time for food shelves since this annual food drive raises more than half the food distributed by the 300 participating food shelves statewide. Food Shelf Coordinator Renee Southworth emphasized how important this campaign is to the Salvation Army Montgomery Food Shelf which provides food to over 100 households in the Montgomery area every month. On average, 8,677 pounds of food is collected, stocked and used by local families each and every month.
Although giving to the food shelf is important any time of the year, donating in March gives food shelves a way to earn more purchasing power at the large food banks. For the food collected this month, food shelves will earn incentive allocation dollars which gives them the ability to purchase food from a food bank at a fraction of retail cost –– usually just 12 cents per pound! They can use the dollars to purchase food throughout the year when stocks run low.
How to help
The easiest way to help is to donate directly to the Montgomery Food Shelf at 105 3rd St. NW. In addition to food, the food shelf also accepts monetary donations which allow them to purchase directly from food banks at a much lower cost. Southworth added that toiletry and hygiene items like diapers, soap, shampoo and toilet paper are also in demand.
"Know that your donation will feed the hearts and souls of those who need it most," she commented.
Other donations sites in town are Most Holy Redeemer and St. John Lutheran churches and all donations stay in the community.
Volunteering at the Montgomery Food Shelf is another way to make a difference. Quite often there are several boxes and bags of donated items that need to be examined for expiration dates, sorted, weighed and finally placed on the shelves. Southworth said that the Montgomery Food Shelf averages 168 volunteer hours each month and more are always needed. For more information, call her at 507-364-7321. Food Shelf work days are Tuesdays and Thursdays from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and the Food Shelf is open to those who need it each Tuesday from 4-6 p.m. and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to noon.
