Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf begins March Campaign

Be the hero. Fight Hunger.

March is here! That means it is time for the 2017 Minnesota Food Share March Campaign for Hunger Awareness. The Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf will again participate by requesting food and monetary donations during the month of March. The food shelf is eligible to receive funding from Minnesota Food Share based on the funding raised and the amount for food items donated (number of pounds). 

This is their biggest fundraiser for the year as the ability to generate matching funds makes it all the more worthwhile. The friendly competition at local churches, ‘Pack the Pews,’ makes it fun as well.

The seriousness of the need for a food shelf is not a laughing matter, though. Statistics show that 1 in every 10 people in Minnesota worry about where their next meal is going to come from and this especially impacts children and senior citizens. That is why there are over 300 food shelves in Minnesota – to help alleviate their worries.

The food shelf is run on individual donations and any grants that are received. With that help, they are able to buy food items through the North Country Food Bank at a greatly reduced rate, but support is needed to keep this program going.

Everyone (individuals, civic organizations, and businesses) is urged to consider making a donation to the Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf during the month of March to take advantage of these grant programs. Food donations may be left at participating area churches or at the Grygla Co-op. Store. Donations can be sent or given to Treasurer Lori Thompson, 222 South Evelyn, PO Box 105, Grygla, MN  56727.

35th Annual Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign has geared up to help replenish food shelves across the state during the month of March. Some 300 local food shelves across Minnesota depend on this effort to help meet hunger needs in their communities, including the Grygla/Gatzke Food Shelf.

Historically, March has been identified by food shelf and other hunger relief workers as a critical time of year. Donations are typically way down following the holidays and hunger remains persistent. Ironically, while the economy overall has been improving, the number of hungry neighbors among us remains stubbornly high. Minnesota FoodShare reports that the number of elderly in Minnesota who are seeking hunger relief has nearly doubled since 2009. Curt Peterson, Interim President and CEO of Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC), says “hunger and access to sufficient amounts of healthy food continue to be concerns in many communities. Food shelves across the state had more than 3 million visits in 2016, making it six years running that we’ve hit that troubling benchmark.” 

The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign encourages individuals, businesses, faith communities, civic organizations, schools, and other groups to support their local food shelf during the month of March. People can connect with their local food shelf or they may register with Minnesota FoodShare to become an official March Campaign partner in collecting food and donations on behalf of their local food shelf. Information and registration is available on the Minnesota FoodShare website at www.mnfoodshare.org.

“Even if you aren’t able to organize to support your local food shelf, you can make a difference by making a donation directly to Minnesota FoodShare” says Peterson, “funds raised during the March Campaign will be distributed to participating food shelves. Cash is most valuable to food shelves because they can purchase exactly what their community needs and they can get about $4 worth of groceries for every $1 they spend.” 

The 2017 March Campaign kicks off during the week of February 27 and runs through March 31, 2017. To learn more about the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign, sign up to participate, or make a donation, visit www.mnfoodshare.org.