Programs

  • White Bear Area Food Shelf Programs

    SINCE 1977, THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF HAS SERVED AS A CRITICAL RESOURCE FOR FAMILIES EXPERIENCING FOOD INSECURITY IN THE WHITE BEAR AREA. WE WORK TO ELIMINATE BARRIERS THAT TRADITIONALLY LIMIT ACCESS TO HEALTHY FOOD FOR FAMILIES LIVING ON A FIXED OR LOW INCOME. THE FOOD AND SUPPORT NEEDS IN OUR COMMUNITY CONTINUE TO GROW EXPONENTIALLY. DUE TO RISING COSTS OF LIVING, IN THE LAST FIVE YEARS WE'VE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF PEOPLE WE'VE SERVED AT THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF. AND IN JUST A FEW MONTHS THIS YEAR, WE'VE SEEN DEMAND SPIKE 21 PERCENT AS PEOPLE DEAL WITH INFLATION AND REDUCED STATE NUTRITION PROGRAM BENEFITS. OUR NEIGHBORS NEED OUR HELP. TO TACKLE THIS CHALLENGE, WE'VE BEEN LISTENING TO OUR COMMUNITY AND EVOLVING OUR PROGRAMS FOR TODAY AND FAR INTO THE FUTURE.CARE - WE PROVIDE FRESH, HIGH-QUALITY FOOD AND INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS.CONNECTION - WE LINK PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES THEY NEED BEYOND FOOD, LIKE HOUSING AND ENERGY ASSISTANCE.COMMUNITY - WE EMBRACE EVERYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND GRATEFULLY PARTNER WITH OUR VOLUNTEERS, DONORS AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS.THIS REPORT HIGHLIGHTS OUR WORK IN THESE AREAS DURING THE LAST YEAR, INCLUDING OUR CURBSIDE, DELIVERY AND MOBILE PROGRAMS. WE'RE ALSO MAKING PLANS FOR A NEW, IN-PERSON EXPERIENCE THAT WILL LOOK AND FEEL LIKE A NEIGHBORHOOD MARKET, HELPING US REACH A NEW SEGMENT OF OUR COMMUNITY AND EXPAND CULTURALLY CONNECTED FOODS. STAY TUNED FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THIS EXCITING ADDITION IN 2023! THE COMMUNITY OF WHITE BEAR LAKE HAS BEEN VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE FOOD SHELF THROUGHOUT ITS LONG HISTORY. BUT THE NEEDS ARE GREAT. THANKFULLY, WE ARE A COMMUNITY OF ABUNDANCE. TOGETHER, WE WILL CONTINUE TO TAKE CARE OF EACH OTHER FOR YEARS TO COME."IT RELIEVES SO MUCH STRESS IN MY LIFE. I DON'T HAVE TO CHOOSE BETWEEN BILLS OR FOOD. IT ALSO ALLOWS ME TO MAKE AND EAT NUTRITIONAL MEALS." - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTTHE FOOD SHELF IMPACT OVER THE PAST 5 YEARSCHART OF VISITS PER YEAR2018 14,4052019 14,6782020 22,0092021 26,5982022 33,857INDIVIDUALS SERVED BY AGE- 40% CHILDREN (0-17)- 47% ADULTS (18-64)- 13% SENIORS (65+)"MY TWIN DAUGHTERS JUST GRADUATED FROM HIGH SCHOOL AND WERE ACCEPTED TO NURSING/PSYCHOLOGY PROGRAMS! I ATTRIBUTE THEIR GREAT SUCCESS TO HAVING FOOD ON THE TABLE FOR DINNER AND NUTRITIOUS OPTIONS FOR VEGGIES AND FRUITS. THANKS TO THE FOOD SHELF FOR HELPING MAKE THIS HAPPEN FOR OUR FAMILY." - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTCAREWE PROVIDE FRESH, QUALITY, CULTURALLY VARIED FOOD.OUR CURBSIDE DELIVERY PROGRAM OFFERS UP TO 60 CHOICES EACH DAY INCLUDING FROZEN MEATS, FRESH PRODUCE, DAIRY, DELI, BAKERY, DRY GOODS, AND HYGIENE ITEMS WHICH GIVES OUR NEIGHBORS THE ABILITY TO MAKE THEIR OWN HEALTHY FOOD CHOICES.CURBSIDE PICKUP - 600,934 POUNDS OF GROCERIES DISTRIBUTED- TOTAL VISITS UP 13% TO 16,625 - TOTAL INDIVIDUALS SERVED UP 17% TO 58,893 "WE ARE EATING IN A WAY WE NEVER COULD WITHOUT YOU. WE ARE VERY GRATEFUL."- WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTWE GO WHERE PEOPLE NEED. MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS DON'T HAVE TRANSPORTATION, SO OUR MOBILE MARKETS REACH THEM AT SENIOR BUILDINGS, SCHOOLS, AND CHURCHES THROUGHOUT THE AREA. OUR DELIVERY PROGRAM, WHICH PARTNERS WITH VALLEY OUTREACH AND CRISTIAN CUPBOARD, HAS EXPANDED GREATLY AND ALSO HELPS GET FOOD TO THE PEOPLE WHO NEED IT INCLUDING THOSE WITH MOBILITY CHALLENGES.MANY KIDS IN OUR COMMUNITY RELY ON MEALS AT SCHOOL DURING THE WEEK, BUT GO HUNGRY ON THE WEEKEND. KIDPACKS AND SCHOOL PANTRIES HELP BRIDGE THIS GAP.MOBILE MARKETS- 156,939 POUNDS OF GROCERIES DISTRIBUTED- TOTAL VISITS UP 44% TO 6,390 - TOTAL INDIVIDUALS SERVED UP 56% TO 16,877 DELIVERIES- 76,925 POUNDS OF GROCERIES DISTRIBUTED - TOTAL VISITS UP 782% TO 2,576 - TOTAL INDIVIDUALS SERVED UP 886% TO 9,919 KIDPACK AND SCHOOL PANTRIES- 30,461 POUNDS OF WEEKEND MEALS DISTRIBUTED- TOTAL KIDPACKS UP 16% TO 7,616"DURING THE PANDEMIC THIS FOOD SHELF LITERALLY HELPED KEEP OUR FAMILY OK. THANK YOU FOR KEEPING MY FAMILY SAFE AND FED." - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTCONNECTWE BRING PEOPLE TOGETHER.WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF AND OUR 'SUPER CONNECTED' NETWORK OF PARTNERS AND COMMITTED STAFF BRING EVERYONE TOGETHER TO TAKE CARE OF PEOPLE. FOOD SHELF STAFF CONNECT NEIGHBORS TO ADDITIONAL BASIC NEED RESOURCES FOR HOUSING, ENERGY ASSISTANCE, MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT, AND LEGAL ADVICE. IN THE NEW STOREFRONT SHOPPING MARKET, PARTNERS WILL HAVE OFFICES TO MEET WITH NEIGHBORS DIRECTLY ON SITE TO CONNECT THEM WITH BASIC NEED RESOURCES. "THANK YOU FOR BEING NON-JUDGMENTAL AND ALWAYS FRIENDLY!" - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENT"HOW DID YOU GET WORKERS WHO ARE SO WELCOMING?" - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTCOMMUNITYWE WELCOME EVERYONE.THE WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF IS PART OF THE FABRIC OF OUR COMMUNITY EVERYONE IS WELCOME TO USE THE SERVICES WHEN THEY NEED THEM, OR TO CONTRIBUTE IN THE BEST WAY THEY'RE ABLE. WE STRIVE TO SUPPORT DIVERSITY IN MULTIPLE WAYS, FROM THE CULTURALLY VARIED FOOD WE PROVIDE AND TO THE PEOPLE WHO HELP MAKE OUR ORGANIZATION A WELCOME PLACE FOR ALL. "YOU MAKE ME FEEL HAPPY COMING HERE." - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENT"I AM GLAD TO SEE AVAILABILITY OF INGREDIENTS FOR ETHNIC COOKING." - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENTIT TAKES ALL OF US.WE'RE GRATEFUL TO HAVE HUNDREDS OF VOLUNTEERS WHO DONATE THOUSANDS OF HOURS TO HELP US PROVIDE HEALTHY GROCERIES FOR LOCAL FAMILIES. IN ADDITION, OUR COMMUNITY PARTNERS ARE INCREDIBLY GENEROUS AND AREA CHURCHES, LIONS CLUB, ROTARY CLUB, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OTHER NON-PROFITS SUPPORT IMPORTANT FUNDRAISING AND EVENTS FOR THE FOOD SHELF.2022 - 9,297 VOLUNTEER HOURS SERVED."THE VOLUNTEERS MAKE YOU FEEL THAT YOU MATTER." - WHITE BEAR AREA FOOD SHELF CLIENT"WE SEE THE COST OF GROCERIES EVERY WEEK AND ALWAYS WONDER HOW PEOPLE WHO STRUGGLE FINANCIALLY CAN AFFORD TO PUT FOOD ON THE TABLE. WE ARE VERY FORTUNATE TO HAVE FOOD SECURITY IN OUR HOUSEHOLD - TODAY - BUT KNOW THAT CAN CHANGE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT. AS LONG AS WE ARE PHYSICALLY ABLE, WE FEEL THAT VOLUNTEERING AT THE WHITE BEAR FOOD SHELF IS REWARDING AND SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE." - VOLUNTEERS MARK & NANCY M.
    Geographies
    Not indicated
    Dates
    Oct 1, 2021 – Sep 30, 2022
    Source
    990
    No causes provided
    No populations provided
    –
    $2.1M