As fall 2020 approaches, it seems like many things are still up in the air and uncertain - how schools will help students learn best, managing COVID spread and waiting for a vaccine, the unsettling economy, and the upcoming elections to just name a few. This lack of a clear path moving forward has caused some anxiety, confusion, and mistrust.
Unfortunately, this environment has been especially hard for people experiencing food insecurity. Over the past five and a half months, the White Bear Area Food Shelf has seen increasing numbers of neighbors in need and it looks like that trend will not only continue but likely increase 30 to 65% this fall (according to a study from McKinsey & Co. and Second Harvest Heartland). This means that we may very likely have an average of 1852 families served compared to 1255 families served in October 2019.
In these unprecedented times, our plans are to expand and improve our services by increasing hours, adding staff and volunteers, and adapting our facility so we can move our services back indoors this fall when the weather is not cooperative with the outside-only distribution. At WBAFS, at least one thing is certain, we will continue to welcome the community with open arms as we work to provide food and support in these uncertain times. Your support matters. You can help by volunteering, donating, or even better yet-sharing about the food shelf to anyone you know that might need our support.
Thank you!
Perry Petersen
Executive Director
News at
The Food Shelf
Welcome to our New Emergency Program Assistants!
Emily Haus joins the White Bear Area Food Shelf as an Emergency Program Assistant! She is excited to continue working in food justice and learn more about the White Bear area community. Emily is a recent graduate of Hamline University, where she received her BA in Spanish and Sociology. At Hamline, she worked in the campus gardens and food pantry, growing a passion for improving community food systems.
In her free time, Emily enjoys walking around her St. Paul neighborhood, listening to podcasts, brewing kombucha, and practicing Portuguese.
Sophia Alhadeff, Emergency Program Assistant, comes to the White Bear Area Food Shelf after graduating from Macalester College in St. Paul this May. She holds a Bachelor of Geography with a concentration in Food, Agriculture and Society. Before joining the staff, Sophia worked as an intern at Second Harvest Heartland and Midtown Farmers Market where she assisted with federal assistance programs and farmers market operations.
Sophia is passionate about food justice and excited to join the team at the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf. She currently lives in Minneapolis, and is originally from Seattle, Washington.
Free Farmers Markets We had the opportunity to welcome several families at our markets in July! Here's how many households visited each Thursday: July 2 - 107
July 9 - canceled due to severe weather
July 16 - 104
July 23 - 178
Free Farmers Markets will continue through September! Please see the schedule in the Events section for locations and times.
Thank you to all who generously donated to the Food Shelf in July! We surpassed our goal of raising $4,000 during the month and our donations were matched by the Open Your Heart’s (OYH) Annual Summer Challenge!
“Thank you White Bear Food Shelf! I was first in line today and the people were wonderful to us. The food packages were wonderful too. Thank you, thank you, thank you! So happy, so grateful that you are here! I feel blessed. Thank you so much!" - a message from a Neighbor visiting our Drive-Thru Food Shelf for the first time
Upcoming Events at
The Food Shelf
Volunteers are still needed for some of the Free Farmers Markets!
Please SIGN UP HERE!
White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf info@whitebearfoodshelf.org | (651) 407-5310 |www.whitebearfoodshelf.org
1884 Whitaker Street, White Bear Lake, MN 55110
NEW Drive-Thru Food Shelf hours for August & September:
Monday & Tuesday 4:30-7:00 pm | Wednesday & Friday 10:00 am-12:30 pm
