by Dennis Dalman
Free fresh vegetables are being offered for people in need, thanks to a partnership between the Sartell Community Garden members and the Celebration Lutheran Church’s Free Community Store.
Gardeners are donating fresh-harvested vegetables to the church, which places them on a display stand on the church grounds at 1500 Pinecone Road N. People who need fresh vegetables can drive up, take what they like and, leave other food items or comfort items if they happen to have any to spare. On Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, produce can be brought to the church from 9 a.m.-2 p.m.
The produce stand will be open from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, now through September.
Others who garden in the area are also encouraged to bring washed excess produce to Celebration for the produce stand. The produce includes zucchini, cucumbers, summer squash, pepper and some beets. Cooler-weather crops – pumpkins, potatoes and more – will start showing up as fall approaches.
In addition to the produce stand, there is also the CLC Free Community Store stand set up on church property. It offers free baby-care items, personal-care items, non-perishable foods and cleaning supplies. That stand is restocked daily and is available 24-7, weather permitting.
Anyone who wants to donate items or monetary donations can do so by either bringing them to the church or sending a check to Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pinecone Road N, Sartell, MN 56377. Please write “Free Store” on the check’s memo line.
Zucchinis and cucumbers – lots of cucumbers – fill the free produce stand at Celebration Lutheran Church. The twice-weekly offering of free fresh veggies is possible due to a partnership between Sartell Community Gardens and Celebration’s Free Store program to help those in need due to repercussions from the virus pandemic.
