Food Drive

 

   Last week Teresa and I volunteered at the SuperOne Foods in Roseau to collect food for the local Food Shelf. We stood at a choke point near the entrance and accosted shoppers as they came into the store. We handed them a little piece of paper with a short list of items the Food Shelf needed and gave them our spiel. If they wanted to help, they should bag the items for the Food Shelf in a separate bag and drop them in the shopping cart marked "Food Shelf Donations" in the exit area.

   A few people were eager to help. The great majority listened to us, took the piece of paper and went their way. Of the many dozens of people that passed us, less than five just blew by us or said No. Once an hour during our three hour shift I had to empty the overflowing shopping cart into our vehicle. There were also cash donations of several hundred dollars.

   Our country is divided over many issues these days but I found it hopeful and encouraging that most people would listen to us and that many of them contributed something. It would be interesting to know people's attitudes about the Food Shelf. Some would support it out of pity for those who need it. Others probably think it's a shame that such a rich country needs an institution like the Food Shelf. And then there's the small group that just says no.

   The food collected by the food drive will certainly help, but the bulk of the food the Food Shelf distributes comes from the big Food Bank in East Grand Forks. Once a month a semi truck delivers several pallets of items ordered by the staff at the Food Shelf. There's a reduced charge for these items, and a portion is free. If staff can't get everything they ordered, they'll buy what they need at SuperOne. Every week SuperOne donates food that is close to expiring. During the year, churches, service organizations, businesses and individuals donate cash or food items. In the summer, gardeners donate produce.

   The Food Shelf is set up like a mini-supermarket. On Tuesday afternoons 30 to 40 people come to the Food Shelf and pick up food for their families. The amount of food they can take is determined by the size of their family. Some people only use the Food Shelf a couple of times. Others have been coming for years. There are income guidelines. People fill out a form, but no one investigates their claim. If someone has a food emergency during the week, there's a number they can call to get food to carry them over.

Good to know it's there.

   The first Food Bank was started in the Sixties by a homeless person. He was working at a church soup kitchen in Phoenix when he discovered the local supermarket was throwing away tons of perfectly good food. He worked with the priest at the church to set up a distribution center for people needing food and the idea spread across the country. Food Banks got a big boost during the Eighties when programs to help those in need were being cut. Talk of cuts is in the air these days. God bless the Food Shelf and those who support it.

Iona Ferderer, co-founder and face of the Food Shelf since 1982