Minnesota Food Share month

To the Editor:

Dear Neighbors, would you like to make a positive change in your community? March is FoodShare Month in Minnesota and Heaven’s Table Food Shelf in Fairmont is part of this statewide food and funds drive which runs from Feb. 27 to April 9, 2023. According to information from the March Campaign’s sponsor, the Greater Minnesota Council of Churches and Second Harvest Food Bank, almost 10 percent of our neighbors are living below the poverty line ($27,479 annual income for a family of four). Minnesota’s charitable food system (food shelves and food banks, meal programs, etc.) continues to run at capacity. This has been exacerbated by rising inflation and the end of various financial and food supports established during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

What can we do? It takes hundreds of volunteers to meet local needs. Can you stock shelves or deliver food to seniors once a month? Can you write grants or enter monthly statistics? Are you part of a group who would like to volunteer together? Would you consider making a donation to Heaven’s Table Food Shelf? Or would you just like to see what goes on at 909 Winnebago Ave. in Fairmont and at 212 North Prairie St. in Sherburn?

We are so grateful for all the individual volunteers, board members past and present, generous churches, companies with matching funds, community partners, civic organizations and local sources of grants that help us to accomplish our mission of “Serving Hungry People in Martin County.” The needs are increasing; 47 percent of food shelf visitors in 2022 were seeking food assistance for the first time, according to Second Harvest Food Bank.

We encourage you to consider supporting us during FoodShare Month by sending a donation to PO Box 745, Fairmont, MN 56031, or volunteer by calling (507) 238-5424. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you.

Susan Redman

Fairmont