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State Representative Leon Lillie
100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.
651-296-1188
For more information contact: Ted Modrich 651-296-5809
NEWS COLUMN
AREA FOOD SHELF SERVING NEEDY IN OUR COMMUNITY
(ST. PAUL) — Almost every numerical indicator cited by economists shows our economy is recovering. Private sector job growth is occurring, month after month, but many of us on still aren’t feeling the recovery. Even before the recession, families were struggling as costs continued to rise, and wages stayed the same. With all this in mind, I wanted to take the opportunity to highlight the great work being done by the North St. Paul Area Food Shelf to help those in need.
The Food Shelf is directed by Linda and Dave Zick with the help of well over 100 volunteers. Ten volunteers help each day, and 10 churches rotate in providing 2 packers each day. In 2010, the food shelf served 3,407 families — over 10,000 individuals — distributing 306,000 pounds of food and $25,000 worth in vouchers. The food shelf served between 214 and 346 families a month, with 373 new families last year. They served 427 more families in 2010 than in 2009, and gave out 36,535 more pounds of food, serving North St. Paul, Maplewood, and Oakdale neighbors in need.
All of this is not counting the great work they do distributing Easter and Thanksgiving baskets, and Christmas hams, turkeys, and roasts.
In addition to all this, the North St. Paul Food Shelf also organizes the “Fare for All Express" program. This is a once-a-month program at the North St. Paul Community Center designed for people looking to stretch their food budget money a bit. The program helps families save 30-50 percent on groceries and is open to everyone.
My wife Missy and I recently attended the Food Shelf’s Annual Dinner at the American Legion. We were very impressed with the number of volunteers and groups that are helping others. Area churches and their members, area businesses and their employees, and educators are all pitching in to help. Mayor Mike Kuehn of North St. Paul, Mayor Carmen Sarrack of Oakdale, and Mayor Will Rossbach of Maplewood expressed their praise and thanks to the volunteers for all the help given to their communities.
I thought the music was very good at the program with Missy and Chuck Witte performing. Of course, I might be a little biased.
When we’re facing our own economic and financial struggles, we don’t often think about the people in our community going hungry, but the Food Shelf is clearly filling a true need. If you can help in anyway please do so. Helping those in need is a Minnesota value and I hope you can join me in contributing anyway you can. Thanks in advance for your generosity.
Donations may be sent via check or money order to the Food Shelf. The North St. Paul Food Shelf is located at 2538 E. Seppala Boulevard, North St. Paul, MN 55109. Food donations can be dropped off at the food shelf between 10:00 a.m. and 1:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. You can also donate at the Cub Foods on White Bear Avenue, the food donation box at the North St. Paul City Hall, or at a local church. You can also reach the Food Shelf by phone at 651-770-1309. If you’re interested in volunteering at the Food Shelf, please contact them. New volunteers are always needed and welcome.
As always, please feel free to contact me with your questions, suggestions and concerns. My office is room 281 in the State Office Building, 100 Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. Saint Paul, Minnesota 55155. I can be reached by phone at 651-296-1188 and by email at rep.leon.lillie@house.mn. You can also monitor activities at the House, track bills, watch live video and sign up for my email update list by going to http://house.mn.
Leon Lillie
State Representative
District 55A
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