Open Your Heart is a grant program from Hunger Solutions where donations the Pine River Area Food Shelf receives in July will be partially matched by Hunger Solutions to meet our needs.
"Open Your Heart" is a saying we don’t have to remind people of in Pine River and Backus because they are famous for doing just that!
Oftentimes, people coming into the food shelf are also homeless. The numbers are greater in the summer than the winter for obvious reasons. Their needs are unique because refrigeration isn’t possible. Cooking is a challenge in their situation also. But with the variety of shelf stable items in stock, we are able to serve them.
In 2020, we served 4,057 individuals seeking food assistance in Minnesota. The total pounds distributed in 2020 was 85,490. Many are repeat clients each month.
Pine River and Backus are classified as an area of food insecurity because of the low median of income and lack of accessibility to fresh produce.
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Open Your Heart is considered a summer challenge from Hunger Solutions. From the total dollars and pounds received in July, a grant will be issued to us depending on the total statewide funds received and proportional to our donations.
We pass this opportunity to give on to you.
More people are gardening this year than ever before. To farmers and gardeners, we ask that any excess produce be donated during our food shelf hours, which are 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Tuesdays and Fridays, except the second Tuesdays of the month when hours are from 3:30-6 p.m.
Our new Super Shelf allows clients to shop for themselves and what their family will eat. Quality and quantity are the name of the game.
Do you know someone who could use this support? We are here for you.
Call 218-587-4292. Send cash donations to P.O. Box 1, Pine River, MN 56474.
Kathleen Stephan is a volunteer at the Pine River-Backus Family Center and Pine River Area Food Shelf.
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