As October drew to an end with no end in sight for the government shut down, people became more anxious about their food supply. SNAP benefits were set to end as of November 1; where would people receiving those benefits find food?
Wendy Todd, director of the Food Shelf program at SEMCAC noted that both donations
and visits to the Food Shelves began picking up. Todd expects the shelves will be “hit big in November.”
According to Todd, Rushford Foods will be starting their donations program, Bags for Hunger, early this year in response to area needs.
Morgan Steffens, case manager at Semcac in Preston, commented that the Preston Food Shelf had definitely seen an increase in new families. Donations at the Preston shelf have increased a lot. The Preston shelf sees around 200 individuals weekly, representing 80 to 90 households.
Steffens explained how the food shelf works. The food is divided into categories on shelves. Clients are allowed to take a number of items from each shelf based on how many individuals in their household. She reminded people that the food shelf is not intended to fill your pantries and asks people to take what they need.
“Panic makes logic go out the window,” Steffens said. “We want to make sure people know that we are keeping up okay right now.”
Steffens emphasized that many churches and companies generously give donations. “We have a wonderful community around here; people aren’t aware of the resources.”
Users of the shelf receive about 60 pounds of basic staples. The Preston Food Shelf gets produce from local farmers as well as eggs, dairy and produce from Channel One. Meat comes from the grocery store or Channel One. All food is within date.
Monetary donations are used to fill in items missing from the shelves; actual food donations can go on the shelves immediately. Both are gratefully received! Right now, the Preston shelf needs items such as spaghetti sauces, canned foods and cereal. Donations can be brought in whenever the food shelf is open.
There will be 48 holiday food boxes available at the Preston Food Shelf this year for needy families; a total of 100 boxes funded by the Salvation Army’s Red Kettle Drive will be dispersed throughout Fillmore County.
Typically, Preston Foods and other companies donate larger meats such as hams and turkeys around Christmastime.
Steffens can also help people with additional needs; she urges people to stop in at her office in Preston and talk with her.
Sarah Wangen, manager of the Preston Food Shelf, noted that donations the past week have seen a big increase; churches, organizations and people from all over the county have donated. The Preston Boy Scouts are planning a food drive. Kwik Trip in Harmony, Casey’s in Stewartville and Preston, and Preston Foods have brought in large donations.
Wangen told of a client explaining the food shelf to her kids. The mom told her kids, “We can have this, but if we don’t need it, we’ll leave it for others.”
Andrea Andresen, manager of the Rushford Food Shelf, shared that since the shelf is open to people living anywhere, she sees people from Houston and Winona counties also.
Andresen said that on October 30, the shelf saw more donations than in a usual month.
According to Andresen, clients have free choice and can choose basic or prepackaged foods based on their needs. She also noticed that some clients were taking less food because they were concerned that there would not be enough for everyone.
One lady went shopping and brought her purchases directly to the food shelf. She had explained, “We’ve been blessed with so much!”
“Rushford Foods is probably our biggest supporter; we don’t have a lot of big corporate donations here,” Andresen enthused.
Root River Floral will be running their Caring Rose Week November 10-15; last year, customers brought in enough food to fill a truck! The R-P Student Council plans a food drive for the Rushford Food Shelf in November.
Here are the locations, days and times for Semcac Food Shelves:
- 105 S. Mantorville Ave., Kasson, Minn., on Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. and 1:30-4 p.m
- 515 Washington St. NW, Preston on Tuesdays 9-noon and 1-6 p.m. and Thursdays 9-noon and 1-4 p.m.
- 113 E. Jessie St., Rushford on Tuesdays and Thursdays 9-11:30 a.m. and 12:30-4 p.m.
- 138 East Main St., Caledonia on Tuesdays 9 a.m.-4 p.m. and Thursdays 9-noon and 1-4 p.m.
For more information and to donate online, see the website semcac.org/food-security-nutrition/food-shelves
Regardless of whether SNAP benefits are shortly restored or not, the area food shelves with the generous donations from local people will do their best to help anyone in need.
Remember this resource is available; those who need, take what you need, those who’ve been blessed, give what you can!
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