Food Shelf sees 90 households per month

The New Richland Area Food Shelf helps anywhere from 275 to 280 people–about 90 households–each month, according to one of its leaders, Larry Goehring. He goes on to say all supplies are available due to community donations. “We have circulating in and out of here between 800 and 1,000 pounds of food every month–that’s on average for the past six months. We hold food drives all year and two in December, and activity always goes up during the holidays. The Bank of New Richland has helped out a lot. Many times they will match donations, and that’s very generous. We also get donations from Wagner Foods, area churches and the general public.” He said there are two different types of donations, “The food itself–which we get many times in bulk–or cash.”

 

He goes on to clarify, “Receiving cash donations gives us the power to purchase from Channel One what we need for a fraction of the cost of buying it in a grocery or discount store. We are also eligible for March Minnesota FoodShare dollars.” Channel One is a food distributor located in Rochester which receives food from many sources and distributes it, at below retail prices, to food shelves across southern Minnesota.

 

March is “Fight World Hunger” month. A statewide organization called Minnesota FoodShare is carrying out a drive to support about 300 food shelves across the state.

Local organizations keep track of donations of money and food received and numbers of people served during March and through April 6. Those numbers are reported, and all participating shelves receive funds from the statewide campaign in proportion to their reported numbers. The FoodShare campaign increases the value of donations made through April 6.

 

The New Richland Area Food Shelf is located at 101 Broadway Avenue South in New Richland. Its open hours are from 3 to 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of each month. 

 

Larry and his wife Pam have been co-leaders of the food shelf ever since they were asked prior to 2009. Larry explains: “We’re Lutherans. Our minister said, ‘You two need something to do and New Richland needs a food shelf. Can you help?’” When it began, the food shelf was located in the education wing of New Richland’s Trinity Lutheran Church.

 

It moved to its current location in 2015 when the State Bank of New Richland donated the building, a former hotel, built in 1890. Along with the building came some funds to update and renovate a space for the food shelf. Larry goes on to say the downtown location and the space offered by the building have been of tremendous benefit to the food shelf’s operation.

 

There was chatter in the kitchen, and both Larry and Pam introduced their help for the day, Dot Gonitzke, Don Behrns, Lori Dalhoff and Rose Loken are among many who volunteer. Said Larry, “We operate with all volunteers; we have at least 12 regulars and we couldn’t do it without them. We couldn’t afford to operate otherwise.”

 

The New Richland Food Shelf website states, “Anyone is welcome. No one will be asked how much money they make. A person can come whenever he/she needs food. No one will be asked for a financial donation. The shelf also takes paper products and toiletry donations as well.”

 

Along with the food shelf, the building at 101 S. Broadway has housed the New Richland Historical Society since about 2001, according to Pam. She indicated a room festooned with pictures and vintage clothing. “This is the historical society’s museum and I’m organizing.” She pointed out pictures painted directly onto the wall, with wooden frames that were installed afterward to give it that “hanging painted canvas” look. She also showed black and white photos of what the place used to look like back when it was a hotel.