Food shelf holds annual fundraiser

Business was steady and the dining area nearly full at Ellendale’s United Methodist Church (UMC) as area residents stopped in to enjoy the free-will-offering “build your own taco” supper in support of the Ellendale area food shelf, which is also located in the UMC building.

According to volunteer Cynthia Nelson, she is one of about 25 people who perform all the tasks needed to open the food shelf’s doors every Thursday from 3:30 to 6:30 p.m. She says between 25 and 35 families typically visit.

“Anyone is welcome,” she says of the food shelf’s policies. “If there’s a need, that’s what we’re here to help with.” Families come primarily from the communities of Ellendale, Blooming Prairie and Clarks Grove.

For Sunday’s fundraiser, 10 volunteers began working mid-morning to cook the needed meat and dice the many vegetables offered to diners across the 4:30 to 7 p.m. serving time.

Nelson mentions the meal is the food shelf’s only fundraiser, held annually during March because the month is designated as a time to call attention to food insecurity.

“We’re very blessed,” she said. “We have a community that supports us with generous donations.”

In addition to acquiring food through the “Channel One” organization out of Rochester, volunteers for the Ellendale Food Shelf use their own time and resources to visit the Aldi’s store and Kwik Trip convenience stores in Owatonna on designated days to collect food for distribution. Volunteers assist visitors in selecting food and perform ongoing tasks including record-keeping, organizing and even defrosting the freezers.

“Nobody in our organization is paid,” points out Nelson. “We do what we do to be good neighbors and help people in need.”