Skip to content
You are here: Home Area News Archive
Local Food Shelf Use Increases, Donations Needed
Pope County Tribune - Starbuck Times
Written by Zach Anderson - Starbuck Times New Editor   
Friday, 20 March 2009 15:08


In 2008, 605 family units were served by the local food shelf - that's up 35 from 2007. Of those 605 families, 2,010 individuals were served and 46,000 pounds of food were distributed - 3,000 more pounds than the year before.

The demand is expected to continue to grow this year.

"The way things look now, it's going to rise rather substantially," Schmainda said.

Already, from March 1-10, 13 families have used the food shelf - the food they picked up will feed 45 individuals who make up those 13 families.

Pope County Hearts and Hands Food Shelf is an emergency food shelf, meaning people can only use the food shelf once every three months. However, if a social worker or priest can vouch for the need, people may use the food shelf more often.

When an individual or family visits the food shelf, there is some paperwork that has to be filled out - the information is used to determine residency and statistics are tallied for state use.

"We make their experience here as easy as possible," Christman said. "We're very willing to help and we don't want anyone to feel they can't come in - we're here to help."

Donations needed




When food shelf use is up, the need for donations rises, too.

"This is something we couldn't be doing if it wasn't for the good people of Pope County," Christman said.

There's always a need for non-perishable food items, but now, there's a particular need for the following: flour, sugar, cooking oil, women's personal products, and laundry detergent.

"We're not fussy. We'll take anything. There's such a need," Christman said.

Donations of money go a long way for the food shelf.

For example, through their regional purchasing group, the local food shelf can buy:

• Six, 32 ounce jugs of juice for $6.40

• Six, 13.5 ounce jars of pasta sauce for 96 cents

• Nine, half-gallon jugs of milk for $3.36

"Five cans of vegetables will go very quickly, but with $5 we can get a case of canned vegetables," Schamainda explained.

March is Minnesota FoodShare Month and across the state, corporations, faith communities, schools and civic groups focus on the issues of hunger and raise cash and food donations for the state's food shelves. As part of FoodShare Month, the local food shelf receives a percentage match of all the money raised across the state.

To donate, drop off items at the food shelf on Mondays and Wednesdays from 2:30-4:30 p.m. or Tuesdays from 4:30-6:30 p.m. The food shelf is located on 6th Avenue NW, just west of the Waska Wash laundromat. Money may be sent to: Pope County Hearts & Hands Food Shelf, c/o Frank Schmainda, 515 First Ave. SE, Glenwood, MN 56334.

If you're interested in volunteering at the food shelf, call Darlene at 634-3547 or Frank at 634-4394.