|   From Survive to Thrive: Food Shelf Facts
Every year, people across the state join forces with Minnesota FoodShare in a concerted effort to stock food shelves during March Food Drive, a month-long campaign with year-long benefits for food shelves and hungry families in Minnesota. Hunger in our state has more than doubled in the last five years, and food shelves have seen a dramatic increase in need for emergency food services; demand more than doubled between 2008 and 2010. Neighborhood House is home to the largest single-site food shelf in Ramsey County, and we have seen this increased need with our own eyes. Everyone can do something to help, and we invite you to make a difference this March. Your gift to our food shelf means local families will have direct access to the nutritious foods they need.
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 use the food shelf, participants meet with a case worker who connects them to a network of resources which help them address the challenges they face - financial assistance needs, language barriers, childcare and education. Our food shelf works as one part of a holistic system of vital services, to make a significant impact in people's lives and give them comprehensive tools to become self-sufficient, active community members.
Our goal is to raise 120,000 pounds of food and dollars during the month of March (one pound is calculated as one dollar to reach our total). This will go a long way toward feeding hungry families; here's how you can help:
Become a Hunger Hero today. Donors are critical to Neighborhood House participants and programs. We call the group of donors/partners who support the food shelf Hunger Heroes. Members of this group feel great knowing that their donations significantly impact the fight against hunger.
Just $5. Monetary donations are a great way to support the food drive. We know how to stretch a dollar and every dollar makes a difference. 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? Click here to join the team and show your support today.
Feed a family. It's easy to start your own food drive and home, using your own pantry. Ask your friends, family, coworkers and neighbors to do the same. Bring the bags of food to the food shelf to be weighed. Every pound gets us closer to our goal!Follow Your Food, Feed Your Heart
Make your March Food Drive a complete experience.
Where does the food from your food drive go? Here's your chance to find out - follow your food all the way from donation to distribution! Neighborhood House invites you to pair your food drive with a volunteer experience this year. We can help you with your food drive by providing collection barrels, marketing materials, speakers and creative ideas to raise food/funds. After your food drive is complete, bring your donations to Neighborhood House and stay for an hour or two to volunteer in our food shelf. You and a group of coworkers or friends will place the food you have raised on our shelves, and then put it directly into the hands of the families who need it most. Contact Riley Karbon at 651.789.3626 or rkarbon@neighb.org to get involved.
Amount raised so far:
| | More ways to support the March Food Drive:
Shop at Kowalski's Market on Grand Avenue, and put your receipt in the Neighborhood House "Groceries for Good Causes" box near the exit. More receipts = a larger donation to our food shelf.
Order boxed lunches from Jerabek's New Bohemian. 10% of catering sales during March will support our food drive! | |
