by Cori Hilsgen
news@thenewsleaders.com
Local Boy Scouts of America are collecting for the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf. Area Scouts are asking people to double-bag and place any donated items outside their front door by 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 5. Scouts will pick up the donations and deliver them to the food shelf.
Items donated should be non-perishable foods in undamaged containers. The food shelf cannot accept open packages, home-canned food or expired items.
Items that are needed include canned fruits, vegetables and meats, pasta and pasta sauces, soups and stews, cereals, paper towels, toiletpaper, tissues, diapers and others. Cash donations to the food shelf are also accepted.
St. Joseph resident and food shelf coordinator Ann Scherer said times are tough and donations are way down. They are currently serving 60-70 families each month, which has been a consistent trend for more than 18 months. Food-shelf clients must live in the St. Joseph area.
Shelves are very empty. Scherer said they are buying 90 percent of everything families are using. Much of the money used to purchase needed items is from a matching grant that usually comes in December.
Scherer said she has to buy many items that did not have to be purchased in past years – items such as macaroni-and-cheese, tuna, canned corn and others.
“I really appreciate all the people in the community who are supporting the food shelf,” Scherer said.
Scherer has been volunteering with the food shelf for the past 13 years. She said the food shelf is totally staffed currently by about 30 volunteers.
The food shelf was started by the St. Joseph Catholic Church and has been serving individuals in need for 28 years. The Resurrection Lutheran Church and other organizations, businesses and many individuals also work together with the Catholic church to keep the food shelf stocked.
Located at 25 1st Ave. NW, the food shelf is open from 1-3 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays.
For more information, contact the St. Joseph Catholic Church at 320-363-7505 or Resurrection Lutheran Church at 320-363-4232.
Long-time St. Joseph Community Food Shelf volunteer Anne Scherer organizes items on shelves. Scherer said times are tough and shelves are very empty. She is buying items she has not needed to purchase in past years.