by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
The St. Joseph Fare for All distribution continued to set records in December, selling 1,066 packs and serving 223 households in two hours, but the January distribution was slower, selling 292 packs and serving 162 households.
Organizer Amanda Roles said the number of December households could have actually been larger since many people were buying holiday packs for others.
Roles pointed out some impressive numbers for the months of July-December 2015, including serving 2,260 households and 7,910 individuals. She said 50,065 pounds of food were sold as 23,664 produce packs, 5,215 mini packs, 15,252 mega packs, 18,160 holiday packs and 3,528 a la carte packs.
Roles said there will be a new Fare for All site opening in February at the Salem Lutheran Church in St. Cloud. The Salem site will give customers the option of being able to use public transportation, something the St. Joseph site does not offer.
Roles said although the Salem site might be competition for the St. Joseph site to remain the largest site, it will be good to have some friendly competition.
Fare for All staff continues to complement St. Joseph volunteers on their efficiency and customer service for seamless distributions. Roles thanked all volunteers for their help at distributions.
The St. Joseph Fare for All distribution dates for 2016 will continue from 3:30-5:30 p.m. Mondays, on Feb. 15, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 18, Aug. 15, Sept. 19, Oct. 17, Nov. 14 and Dec. 12. at the Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 Co Rd 2, St Joseph.