Recently, I heard an influential leader say "Every crisis creates problems and opportunities. Most people just see the problems but leaders must address the problems and seize the opportunities!" That is so true!!! Each day I am seeing opportunities come to life as I encounter extraordinary leaders making an impact in our community. Check out these examples:
The Food Shelf staff quickly transformed a decades-long model of our daily market into a drive-thru model in one weekend. Joined by the dynamic team of Amanda, Deb, Sonja, and Trica, we have led the charge to pack and distribute 4008 bags of groceries in the past four weeks, an increase of 67% in the last month (see the graphic below). We miss our volunteers though!
The City of White Bear Lake and WBL School District are helping pack and distribute 350 KID Packs each week to local students experiencing food insecurity over the weekends.
Dellwood Golf Course and White Bear Lake Area Educators each reached out to its members and helped raise thousands of dollars to help support the growing demand at the Food Shelf.
The generosity of people in our community sending financial support to help fund the expanding need for food in our community is encouraging. Many times donations are given with kind and supportive notes that are very touching and help refuel our staff to keep serving well each day.
These are just some of the amazing things I have seen as the community in and around White Bear Lake rallies to address food insecurity in our area. Make no mistake, these are pivotal times, as we move from regular routine into this season of COVID-19, I am thankful that so many of you in our community who have modeled leadership by seizing the opportunity to support our neighbors in need
Take care and thank you!
Perry Petersen
Executive Director
News at
The Food Shelf
Welcome to our new Market Coordinator -
Susanne DePalma!
Susanne DePalma joins the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf after two years as the Program Coordinator for the Women’s Environmental Institute (WEI) administering their Community Supported Agriculture and Sustainability Education programs. Before working for WEI, she volunteered as their Volunteer Coordinator for two years. She has also worked as Day Staff for two years with Mill City Farmers Market where she has developed lasting relationships with the customers and farmers.
Early in her career, she worked on an organic farm before pursuing a Bachelor’s Degree in Biology followed by seventeen years in biotechnology. Susanne has been an active volunteer throughout her life, which eventually inspired her to make a career shift into nonprofits where she could focus on serving the needs of her community. Susanne is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Sustainable and Resilient Food Systems from the University of Wisconsin. She looks forward to making an impact on issues related to food access, nutrition, and food insecurity.
Susanne is an avid bicyclist, gardener, and dog lover. She enjoys cooking and is always looking for new ways to prepare fresh vegetables from the garden. Her adult son works as a cook and they enjoy spending time in the kitchen together and playing board games when they have time.
“Thank you for staying open and continuing to help others in WBL put food on their tables” - note from a Neighbor regarding our Drive-Thru Food Shelf
Upcoming Events at
The Food Shelf
The Minnesota FoodShare Campaign, which provides matching funds to food shelves in the state, has been extended to April 30th! Please help us reach our goal of $50,000 in financial donations and DONATE HERE!
White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf info@whitebearfoodshelf.org | (651) 407-5310 |www.whitebearfoodshelf.org
1884 Whitaker Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
Drive-Thru Food Shelf hours: M,W,F 10:00 am-12:30 pm | T,Th 4:30-7:00 pm
