Ann Bagnoli believes the White Bear Lake Emergency Food Shelf “represents all that is best in our community.”

Bagnoli, of North Oaks, retired last month after 18 years as a food shelf board member, including the last 15 years as its chairwoman.

Fellow board member Kevin Donovan called Bagnoli “a tireless and committed chair … who gave an amazing amount of time and energy.”

“We’re going to miss a very valuable person in Ann,” said Food Shelf Executive Director Joan Burth. “That woman did it all.”

Founded in 1977 by Mary Bosscher and Mim Kolling from St. Pius X Church, the food shelf in its early years was coordinated by area churches. Bagnoli joined the board in 1991 as representative from the Church of St. Mary of the Lake.

“I was drawn to the food shelf because I thought it was such a great community asset,” she said. She added that the mission of the organization “is to share community contributions of both food and cash with our neighbors who need emergency help, and to treat them with respect, dignity and confidentiality.”

In its early years, the food shelf was housed at several temporary locations. Under Bagnoli’s leadership and with financial support from the Lions Club, Ramsey County and others, a permanent food shelf was built near the White Bear Lake Public Works facility in 2000.

“We are very pleased that our board and its many community partners were able to build this facility,” Bagnoli said. “Since 2000, the Emergency Food Shelf has nearly tripled the number of neighbors that we serve.”

Bagnoli also presided over expansion of the board to include more community members, establishment of the annual fund drive, and the transition from an all-volunteer workforce to currently employing three part-time employees.

The board leader always was willing to do the grunt work, according to her colleagues. With her husband Tom, she helped pack bags of food every Thanksgiving and Christmas — a tradition she plans to continue even after retiring from the board.

“She devoted thousands of volunteer hours to the organization in her commitment to making it possible for families experiencing difficulties to put food on their tables,” said Jackie Reis, who replaces Bagnoli as board chairwoman. Donovan was elected vice chairman; Mary Kowitz is secretary and Charisse Hall is treasurer. Hall and Bill Bongard, Dan Brumm, Mark Sather and Bobbi Svoboda were reelected to the board for three-year terms.

“I just felt it was time for fresh blood; fresh ideas,” Bagnoli said of deciding to step down. “We have a great new chair in Jackie Reis.”

Bagnoli said a point of pride is that only 6 percent of revenues go to administrative and operating costs.

“We are a well-run, very financially responsible organization,” she said.

Due to the poor economy, the number of people using the food shelf has increased notably. The nonprofit, which serves communities within the White Bear Lake Area School District and much of the Mahtomedi School District, now is serving 11 or more families on most days, compared to seven or eight per day in past years, Burth said. Last fiscal year, the food shelf served more than 2,700 families more than 175,000 meals and more than $100,000 in grocery store vouchers.

Despite the economy, food shelf donations also are on the rise.

The annual March food drive netted a record of more than 51,100 pounds of food (including a few financial donations counted as one pound per dollar). Last year, the total was approximately 37,800.

With more than 20 area troops and packs participating, the annual Scout food drive April 25 collected more than 9,300 pounds. Last year the Girl, Boy and Cub Scouts collected a little less than 7,800.

“We should all be very proud to live in a community that reaches out to care for our neighbors who need emergency food,” Bagnoli said.

Kristine Goodrich can be reached at 651-407-1233 or vadnaisheightsnews@presspubs.com.