Posted: 7/5/05
By MaryHelen Swanson
In a world where we are bombarded with television infomercials focusing on dieting, one would think there weren't many people who had to worry about not eating enough.
The fact is, among us there are people who have to worry about whether they will be able to eat at all. And that includes children who have absolutely no control over their circumstances.
Driving through the cities and countryside of Chisago County and seeing the huge homes being built, one could come to believe there are no people in this community who need help feeding their children, or themselves.
But ask Randy Koivisto at the North Branch Family Pathways Food Pantry and heíll tell you otherwise.
Just this June, 101 families needed the services provided by the local food shelf. They were given 7,337 pounds of food, and that generally only equated to 20 pounds of food or 9 meals per person for the month.
Who among us eats only 9 meals a month?
Local people are generous, especially around the holidays of Thanksgiving and Christmas. And even during the year, many youth groups, churches, businesses and organizations conduct food drives for the food pantry. So, if you should someday walk into the food pantry on Main Street in North Branch and see the shelves full, youíd think all was well.
ìWhile it may look sufficient,î said Koivisto, ìitís no wheres near enough.î
He said they are constantly struggling to keep food on hand. If it werenít for the Second Harvest Food Bank, he said, they would be in big trouble.
The marvelous thing about the bank is the low cost of food that allows food shelves like the one in North Branch to stretch its available dollars.
But there are certain things they canít get at the food bank.
Volunteers Bill Flor and Becky Crep were busy restocking shelves with what had been brought in last Friday, it didnít take up much of their time. The shelves had food on them, but there were many bare sections. Flor pointed to an area where some toiletries and paper products were stocked. Those things, toothpaste, bar soap, shampoo, toilet paper ... they are much needed too, he said.
Koivisto said families that struggled during the school year are facing even more stress. Families whose children received free or reduced meals at school are finding it difficult to provide meals in the summer.
Koivisto pointed to an April 2 article in the Star Tribune which showed a table of the poverty level of children in Minnesota schools. For North Branch that level is 20 percent.
Koivisto realizes that there are many things that occupy people's lives in the summer, donating food to a food shelf is probably not a priority this time of year, he said.
Just recently the NB food pantry was the recipient of a food drive at CUB foods in Forest Lake. It helped, Koivisto said.
But looking around and seeing cans and boxes on the shelves now, he knows that the supply won't last long.
The facility in NB has freezers and refrigerators. They buy milk and have it delivered so families can have milk for their children. They can keep meat and produce safe and fresh for the recipients, too.
Families are allowed one visit a month. They are required to call and set up an appointment to get their food.
But, one-time walk-ins are not turned away, and do not need to meet qualifications, Koivisto said. Still, after the first visit, people are required to be qualified and must follow the requirements.
Many times the family is scheduled to come in and get their food at a time that will allow for their privacy.
Sometimes, Koivisto said, people will need to be driven or borrow a car to come and get their food. At times that car might be a nice vehicle and people who see this question if these people are really in need of help.
They don't always have a means of transportation. Sometimes they walk in. Sometimes the need is for a family, other times for an elderly person.
It can be awfully difficult to swallow one's pride and seek help.
At times, that doesn't show up until after the paperwork is done. When it comes time to actually pick out the food, that's often when the tears begin, the volunteers noted.
Some people have even driven around the block several times trying to work up the courage to go inside.
The food pantry's space dilemma is only temporary when a group holds a food drive and brings in a lot of food. There are strict regulations about specific shelving and not having food stored on the floor, etc., but they find the room knowing that it won't be long before it's gone.
Donations of any size are welcome and appreciated. And that includes surplus produce from area gardens.
Monetary donations are needed to help with costs of overhead as well as to purchase food. All food shelf workers are volunteers with the exception of a hired director.
Food collections are being held throughout the year. Many area churches have regular days for their drives, other groups and organization often advertise when they are going to do a special collection.
But people do not need to wait for a special drive. Food can be dropped off at the food pantry, located at 6479 Main Street, across the street from NB United Methodist Church, Mondays 2 p.m. - 5 p.m., Wednesdays and Fridays 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. and Saturdays 1 p.m. - 4 p.m.
If you want to call and let them know you are bringing in food, call (651) 674-8313.
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The Post Review, in conjunction with ECM Publisher's Community Affairs Council, is holding a food drive July 11-22. You can drop your donations off at our office Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Food donations will receive a matching monetary donation from the CAC of $1 per pound up to 300 pounds. Cash donations will also be accepted.
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In June The NB Food Pantry served 101 families; 11 had never used the food shelf before. The number of people served was 367.
Of that, 185 were children. The families received 7,337 pounds of food.
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