February is typically the slowest month of the year for the Eagan Resource Center’s food shelf. But this month, Eagan Resource Center Director Lisa Horn isn’t expecting any slowdown.

That’s because the number of users accessing the food shelf has grown explosively over the last two years, Horn said.

Any day of the week you might find Forrest Gregory sorting through piles of lettuce at SonLight Church in Blaine, hauling boxes of fruit into Refuge of Hope Church in Andover, or lining up milk, frozen meat and avocadoes along tables at Fridley Covenant Church.

Sometimes he gets so lost in the juggling act that his wife has to remind him to come home at night.

“I’ll call him on his cell and

Depending on who you ask, anywhere from 11 to 14 percent of Mower County is going hungry.

According to the Map the Meal Gap study released by Feeding America earlier this year, Mower County is at an 11 percent food insecurity rate.

The approaching Yuletide season is sending consumer spending into record territory.

Meanwhile in Hubbard County, food shelf patronage appears to paradoxically parallel the increase.

“We are busy, busy, busy,” food shelf director Dave Long said of families and individuals seeking assistance.

“There is a lot more usage,” agreed Connie Walz, Mahube office manager who acts as a referr

The residents that walk through the doors of C.R.O.S.S. (Christians Reaching Out In Social Service) food shelf are not the same demographic of people who used the non-profit’s services 30 years ago.

Today, they are professionals who are out of work—doctors, lawyers, teachers.

Woodbury resident John Ethridge made his living working in construction as a large home builder. But four years ago he found himself unable to go to work because his multiple sclerosis had become too severe.

“I got sicker where I couldn’t work anymore,” he said.

Groveland Food For Youth in Minneapolis, Minn. on Thursday, August 25, 2011. The food shelf, located at Plymouth Congregational Church, serves homeless and transitional youth. Started by Matt Tennant, founder of Full Cycle, the food shelf aims to make young people feel comfortable and welcome and employs some homeless young people to work during open hours.

St. Peter Food Shelf volunteer Nancy Helgeson says they used to serve up to eight food shelf visitors on a busy day. Now they’ve been serving up to 16.

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In its second year, the Eagan and Lakeville Resource Center Garden to Table program collected more than 18,000 pounds of fresh produce for local families in need of food support.

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Kurt Hildebrandt, khildebrandt@stpeterherald.com

Big changes are taking place at the St. Peter Area Food Shelf as the organization is not only in the process of changing the way it operates, but also where it operates.
Volunteers with the St.