Stay up to date with the latest risk management news, recommendations and strategies that are relevant to your nonprofit’s operations and programs. Join MCN and the Washington, D.C.-based Nonprofit Risk Management Center for the 2008 Risk Management and Finance Summit for Nonprofits on September 7-9 at the downtown Minneapolis Marriott City Center.
Food drive contest needs help
Oakdale offers prizes for biggest donation
Katy Zillmer
staff writer
Oakdale’s Food Drive Contest has gotten off to a slow start, but city staff and North St. Paul Area Food Shelf volunteers are hopeful for a successful outcome.
The contest ends June 30 and bins are set up at Oakdale City Hall, 1584 Hadley Ave., for the much-needed donations.
Food shelf feels price pain
The cost of basics bringing more people into Neighbors
John Kemp has seen children stop into the Neighbors, Inc., bakery, get a loaf of bread, take it to the curb and eat it straight down.
Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP), a food shelf serving Bloomington, Edina and Richfield, orders 15 to 20 Birthday Buddies kits per week, said Nathan Rust, a food program manager for VEAP. The food shelf volunteers keep track of their clients’ children’s birthdays so they can have a kit ready in time.
Demand at area food shelves has soared as rising fuel prices take a bigger chunk of household budgets.
The organization has increased its space, increased its staff, and increased its donation intake. At the same time, though, the non-profit’s food shelf needs have increased 60 percent from three years ago, with a record number of children and elderly now requesting items.
Food and fuel price increases have caused many in the Northfield community to visit the local food shelf and Thursday’s Table just to make ends meet. Local farms working hard to keep transportation costs low are still feeling the sting of high grain prices.
Community Day is a unique opportunity for non-profit organizations to raise money and increase their visibility in the community. It’s a fun, rewarding event for all involved, at no cost to the participating organizations. So why wait? Sign up now!
The high food prices that have pushed so many Americans to their limits are beginning to push some over the edge.
Bill, who lives in Hopkins with his wife and four children, has begun to go to a food shelf once a month for a free load of food that lasts 2-3 weeks.
“They said we earn too much to get food stamps,” his wife, Wendy, said.
“Summertime is ‘such’ a difficult time for families, because kids are out of school, and they’re at home,” Barker reasoned. “They have to feed their kids two extra meals a day, and then they have to take care of childcare, and all that adds up.”
In fact, Barker expects 200 new clients to sign on for the food shelf and other services each month this summer.