To the editor:

The North Branch Food Pantry would like to thank the following individuals, organizations, and businesses for their generous support during the holiday season.

First and foremost we wish to thank the kids from the primary and middle schools in the North Branch area. They came bearing gifts of food from the Main Street School, the Primary School, the Middle School, and the Trinity Site. Not wanting to be outdone by the North Branch Seniors, who held their food drive in November, the little people with the big hearts piled up 3,797 pounds of food! Awesome job! The classes were able to view the Food Pantry operation and those that requested, were given a brief talk about the Food Shelf. The School donation helped make the December's food donation total of 10,532 pounds, the largest of 2004!

We would also publicly like to thank our volunteer crew that did an outstanding job during a very busy month, client and donation wise. They are truly a major factor in the success of our operation and if youíve met any of them, you'll know why. They are the best that our community has to offer. Thank You!

Nelsonís Market, once again supported us during the holiday period by offering for sale, food bags to be donated to the food shelf, at a reduced price. They have been a long time partner with us and have been extremely helpful in supplying those items that we are most in need of. Thanks to Jeff and the crew, and the local contributors whose purchases made it all possible!

The Stacy Lions Club, Stacy/Lent Fire Department, and the North Branch American Legion Post 85, all made cash donations which enabled us to purchase turkeys and hams for the holiday baskets. Thanks also to the menís group from Harris Covenant Church for their donation of 126 pounds of turkeys. Their gifts allowed us to serve 64 Christmas and 72 Thanksgiving baskets to help brighten less fortunate local familyís holidays. Thank You!

Many thanks to the North Branch Chamber of Commerce for collecting food during their Santa Days event and for Boy Scout Troop 411 of North Branch for delivering the goods.

We wouldnít be able to operate without the help from our local churches. Thanks to Living Branch Lutheran for being the top supporter for December with 300 pounds donated! Thanks also go out to St. Gregoryís Catholic Church, Spring Lake Lutheran Church, the United Methodist Church of North Branch, Trinity Lutheran Church, Almelund Lutheran Church, Kost Evangelical Free Church, Northbrook Fellowship, St. Peters Catholic Church in Forest Lake, Fish Lake Lutheran Church in Stark, First Lutheran Church in Harris, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, and the Trinity Bible Church for their unselfish giving.

A special thanks to Mr. Charles Sutton whose weekly visits with food donations and sunny disposition brighten our days! His generosity is unmatched. We are indebted to Kelly and Roy Ramberg for providing a space for us to operate at a greatly reduced cost. The communityís giving nature takes many forms.
Thanks also to the following companies that came through for us during this holiday season with either food or monetary donations. ERA Muske, Elfering Bros. Construction, Fernwood Developers, the Eddy Family Foundation - Elk River, Curves of North Branch, Bearly Big Gymnastics, Cub Foods - White Bear Lake, North Branch Police Dept. Triad unit, North Branch American Legion Auxiliary, North Branch Lioness Club, North Branch Senior Center, Girl Scout Troop 2360, Brownie Troop1060, the North Branch school bus drivers, Excel Energy - Stillwater employees, North Branch Veterinary Clinic, Mudrick Masonry, the Caulkers Co. of Minneapolis, Sunrise Valley Bison, Kramer Mechanical, Hermann Insurance Service, St. Croix Valley AFL-CIO, Prefer Paving of Rush City, the First National Bank of Hudson, D.A. Distribution - Spring Lake Park, Lake State Federal Credit Union, Minnco Credit Union, Swede O Inc, Sno-Bugs Snowmobile club of Rush City and Doug Coe Excavating.

Most of all, we would like to thank the citizens of our community for reaching out and helping those neighbors, who for a variety of reasons, are struggling to make ends meet. We distributed 89,805 pounds of food in 2004 to needy families. There are those clients who wish to thank us for our being here and helping them in their time of need, but we tell them that the help they are receiving is coming from their generous neighbors. It would be impossible without them. Bless them all.

Randy Koivisto
Family Pathways
North Branch Food Pantry

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