by MaryAnne Block
As winter approaches, many people experiencing or fearing imminent food insecurity are always welcome to visit and find help at the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf.
The facility is located at 18 Birch St. E. Residents may stop there from 1-3 p.m. on Tuesdays or Thursdays to register and to select items they prefer. Clients are requested to bring along a photo I.D. and verification of address.
Once registered, people can visit the Food Shelf once a month to receive free food. The food items include a wide variety, such as boxed and canned goods, plus some frozen and refrigerated items as well.
The St. Joseph facility has been providing food to St. Joseph residents in need since 1987. Its permanent location on Birch Street E. opened in February 2023 after being housed temporarily in at least four previous buildings since it began.
Sandi Stocker started as a volunteer about five years ago and recently became co-coordinator with Julie Gravgaard. Stocker said she is pleased with the broad selection of food and paper products available to those who have registered.
St. Joseph resident Kay Lemke is one of the original volunteers still working at the Food Shelf since its very beginning when it was started in St. Joseph by the Sisters of the Order of St. Benedict.
Financial support from the public is essential to maintaining well stocked food shelves. Food items are donated by St. Joseph area churches, as well as from Cub Scouts who conduct an annual food drive. Coborn’s Foods donates baked items. Donations by businesses, organizations and individuals – not to mention volunteers – also help keep the Food Shelf up and operating.
Special seasonal items of hats and mufflers have been donated recently from the St. Cloud Coats for Kids program. Those are also available by those who have registered for monthly shopping.
Long-time food-shelf volunteer Kay Lemke bags groceries for visitors to the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf.
