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Sunday Night
MaryHelen Swanson, editor

In spite of the rainy weather this past weekend, you might have found time between showers to grill outdoors. What tasty morsel did you serve up from the coals? Steaks, hamburgers, brats? Perhaps you made a trip to a specialty market and found some great swordfish to grill or caught your own trout and had a delicious shore lunch somewhere up north. If you dined in any one of these fashions, you were lucky. Of course, some will say ìI worked and earned the money to buy my food.î And thatís very true.
But some people in our area are working, too, and simply donít have the resources to keep food supplies on hand. So, while you were wondering what to do with all the leftovers Sunday, others might have been trying to figure out how to make a pound of hamburger stretch a little farther.
It is happening right here in Chisago County. Why? Well, food shelf directors say there are those who are working at low-paying jobs, but working none-the-less, who simply canít make it to the end of the month before the paycheck is dried up. And good food, even basic food, is expensive.
Others, having put much of their resources into decent housing, come up short, especially when there are emergencies in the family such as unexpected illnesses or car accidents. Strange emergencies arise more than you would think. For example, a young family moves into their new home, having stuck much of their available income into the house, and learns that one family member is severely allergic to the carpet. Unexpected costs of carpet replacement can put a terrible strain on the food budget.
Others who, for nine months, get the extra help through school lunch programs, must feed children in the summer with budgets that donít increase to include the extra expense. In addition, we have among us people from foreign countries who are trying to become a part of our American society but who are struggling through language barriers, job placement issues and affordable housing. And they have trouble cooking and eating food which is as foreign to them as their accents are to us.
For whatever reason people are seeking assistance at our area food shelves, their needs are important. Is is not a humane thing to help those less fortunate?
Those who direct and work at local food shelves are becoming quite concerned - the shelves are bare and the needs continue.
Isnít it funny how we always think of these issues as problems of inner cities or third world countries? Well, if youíve ever balked at donating to food collection programs because you said they didnít go toward people at home, nowís the time to change your mind.
The food you donate to local food shelves, goes to local people and most of the time youíd never tell them from anyone else you meet on the street.
These people are not taking advantage of you or anyone else by seeking free food. There are limits placed on how often a person or family can use a food shelf, so dependency on such is not an issue. And those who do use the service are not stocking up on supplies for months, they are usually given enough food for a couple of daysí meals to suit the number of people in the family.
They are not dining on steaks and seafood, but solid, basic foods, so they are not getting special treatment. The goal is to provide nutritious food for men, women and children. When our people are well-fed, they can work better, concentrate better in school, and stay out of medical clinics.
What can you do to help this summer?
Considering that many people have limited food budgets, and considering the cost of food, you can make it easy on yourself by purchasing just a few of the needed items each time you visit the store. And when you have a grocery bag full at home, drop it off at one of the food shelf locations in Rush City, North Branch or Wyoming. Or, your church might be collecting food, take it there. Also, there are a number of businesses collecting food for area shelves. A lot of people are trying to get food to those in need and theyíre trying to make it easy for you to help. If youíd like, just drop your donation off at the Post Review office and weíll take it downstairs to the food pantry.
In North Branch, the food pantry needs peanut butter and jelly. Thatís about as basic as you can get. So, watch the ads for sales, and pick up a couple of jars.
They also need spaghetti sauce and dried pastas. They are fairly reasonable. Toss a couple of boxes of noodles in your cart and a jar or two of spaghetti sauce and youíve helped one, maybe two families have a decent supper.
Rice and oatmeal are on the list, as well as sugar, boxed potatoes, pork and beans, canned fruit, canned pastas and kidney beans. Nothing here sounds too expensive, if you just add one or two to your grocery cart at a time. Itís just that easy to help a neighbor; buying and dropping off a few items of food at your area food shelf.
They donít need fixings for turkey dinners, they donít need expensive meats or strange and costly gourmet items. Just plain food. Most of the food shelves now have refrigeration also, so perishable items, such as eggs, ground meats, etc. are welcome, as well as fresh produce from your gardens. You might call with these donations ahead of time.
One person probably wonít make a difference, although each and every donation is gratefully accepted; but ten, and ten times ten, and ten times ten times ten, well, that would probably solve the bare shelf problems.
No one wants to have to ask for help, but sometimes it becomes necessary. And, considering that many of us are just a few paychecks away from personal tragedy, none of us should judge those who seek help.
It might seem like there are people who live all their lives with a hand out, but there are plenty who, after receiving help, get on their feet and become productive, happy citizens.
Why not be the one who helps provide good food for good people. Letís get those shelves full again. Try it, I think youíll like it.
The Rush City Food Shelf is open the last Tuesday of the month and is located at the Rush City Community Center. Call Gladys Enzenauer (320) 358-3179. The North Branch Food Pantry is open Mon., Wed., and Fri. 9 a.m.- 3:30 p.m. downstairs at 6448 Main Street. Call Lorraine Swenson (651) 674-8313.

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