| Basic Needs: The Food Shelf
From “Survive to Thrive”
The goal of the Neighborhood House Food Shelf is to provide food to those seeking assistance, and to connect them with critical community resources that help them move “from survive to thrive.” In order to utilize the Neighborhood House food shelf, participants are required to meet with a case worker who connects them to a network of resources, which help them address their own challenges, such as financial assistance needs, language barriers, childcare, and education. The Neighborhood House Food Shelf makes a significant difference in people’s lives, giving them comprehensive tools to become self- sufficient, active community members.
- Neighborhood House has the largest single-site food shelf in Ramsey County, distributing over 3,000 pounds of food daily to over 8,000 households annually; 50% of those served are children.
- Of all food shelf participants, 90% live on incomes below the national poverty guideline, which includes a family of four earning $22,050 or less annually, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
- The Neighborhood House Food Shelf was named a Blue Ribbon Food Shelf by Hunger Solutions Minnesota, recognizing exceptional quality and service.
Become a Hunger Hero Today. Donors are critical to Neighborhood House participants and programs. We recently named the group of donors/partners that designate specifically to the food shelf Hunger Heroes. Members of this group feel great knowing their donations significantly impact the fight against hunger. There are numerous ways to offer your support, here are just some of the ways you can join the team: - Just $5. Monetary donations are a great way to support the Food Drive. Did you know that $5 = two meals for a family of three; $25 = over 500 servings of rice; and $50 = lunch and dinner for a family of four for a week. We know how to stretch a dollar and every dollar makes a difference. Join the team and show your support today.
- Feed a family. Start your own food drive at home, using your own pantry. Ask your friends, family, co-workers and neighbors to join you in the fight against hunger.
- Give and Receive. Register for coupons with Blind Squirrel, which is similar to Groupon.com but with a do-gooder twist. Visit www.supportnh.org to register. Each time you make a discounted coupon purchase, 20% of the proceeds go to us.
- Volunteer. Volunteers are always needed in The Food Shelf. Learn more about volunteer opportunities!
Success Story
Youth Center Teams Up with Food Shelf to Fight Hunger
When you think about Neighborhood House and the fight against hunger, you probably think about food items donated specifically to our food shelf, but ask John Guertin, Youth Center Manager and he will tell you, “Everyone here has something to do with the food shelf. We are all involved somehow.” This October, $2,500 was granted to the youth center from Hunger Solutions, to establish a Snack-pack Program.
Every Wednesday at 3:30 p.m. the staff fills up to twenty-five backpacks with twenty-five pounds of food each. Children, ranging in age from 6 to 15, take their stocked backpacks home to their families. They load their shelves at home with nutritious foods, like juice, pasta and beans, and then return the empty sacks to the youth center. Not only are the youth getting much needed food also they are learning about responsibility. They are responsible to their families, providing food to their households, and they are responsible to Neighborhood House, returning backpacks to the Youth Center each week.
“This is a very new model,” says Cindi Yang, Program Director for Basic Needs. “There aren’t many food shelves that will give food to the children but the Snack-pack Program puts food directly in the hands of hungry youth without worrying about demographics.” It is an innovative step in offering a variety of services to a community with a variety of needs.
Neighborhood House is known for its vast array of service offerings, helping people from all walks of life at all points in their lives gain the skills they need to be positive community contributors. Providing kids with nourishing food so they are not distracted by hunger enables them to focus on important activities like homework and healthy physical activity. “The reality is that all of the youth who visit us are hungry,” Guertin notes, “As soon as they get the backpacks they look inside to see what they can eat right away.”
The youth center is hoping this program will continue and could even expand; with additional funds. If you would like to support the Snack-pack Program and help to expand the program to more children and their families, please contact us today. | | Eligibility
For eligibility information, please contact The Food Shelf at 651-789-3630.
Hours
Walk-ins available Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 9:00am-11:30am and 1:00pm-3:30pm
(Closed from 12:00pm-1:00pm)
Visit by appointment only Tuesdays and Thursdays.
No referral necessary but appointment is required.
Our food shelf is supported by
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