The Importance of Volunteerism

The Retired Educators volunteer group packing NAPS boxes

I have been working as the Repack Coordinator for a little over 2 years now and have seen firsthand how important volunteers are to our success at the Second Harvest North Central Food Bank from a Logistical standpoint.

Each month we produce approximately 2,200 pre packed boxes of food for the Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors (NAPS) and Mothers and Children (MAC).  This amounts to 63,600 pounds of food needs to be packed every month for just these two programs. 

 Our volunteers come on a scheduled basis four times during the month in groups of 15-20 per session and work for 2-3 hours repacking approximately 13-16 pallets (18,000 – 22,000 pounds) during their shift. 

Not only are they providing a valuable service to our organization, they are visiting with each other, re-connecting with old friends, sharing stories and having a good time while giving back to the community. The majority of our volunteers have retired from their chosen profession(s) and still live in the surrounding area.

We also welcome groups from local businesses, schools, churches, and other organizations as well as families and individuals who donate their time helping us provide food to those in need.  We ask you to encourage others to join the approximately 500 individuals who donate their time and energy each month. 

 With many other repacking projects every month, each requiring numerous hours of labor to complete, this simply could not be accomplished without your help. 

THANK YOU!

Mark Lantinen, Repack/Volunteer Coordinator

Great news for Neighbors Helping Neighbors in Nashwauk

Tony Potter / Hibbing Daily Tribune

 By Tony Potter Hibbing Daily Tribune 


NASHWAUK — A major change has taken place at the Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) Food Shelf in Nashwauk. Director Joen Blomberg was hired by vote of the NHN Food Shelf Board to be the nonprofit’s first paid staff member on Jan. 1.

“We needed a point person,” said Publicity Director Karen Peterson. “There is too much work for the average volunteer.”

The ability to hire a paid site coordinator was made possible due to a two-year grant from the Blandin Foundation, she explained. The grant allows the director to earn $10,000 in salary during each year of the contract.

Blomberg said that when the position was offered to her by the board, she was too honored not to accept it.

“My heart leads me to helping people,” she said, adding that she has also volunteered at a Colorado food shelf and done community outreach for churches. “… I love this. It’s my passion.”

Blomberg first got involved with the NHN Food Shelf as the secretary of the board when the organization opened up in November of 2009. She eventually became the site coordinator, and has served as the food shelf director over the past few years.

Blomberg noted that even though her title has changed several times, her duties have remained fairly similar. She said her primary duties consist of ordering food, overseeing all aspects of the operation and implementing board decisions.

Being the nonprofit’s only paid worker provides an added push to work even harder for the food shelf, Blomberg said.

“It gave me motivation, and a lot more responsibility,” she said.

Blomberg said that her previous experiences at the food shelves in Nashwauk and Colorado have helped prepare her for this opportunity.

“I feel that I have a lot of experience that helps me know every aspect of the organization,” she said.

With the added flexibility, the food shelf also has new goals. The hope is to expand the nonprofit’s hours and add delivery to the senior apartments in Nashwauk, Blomberg said.

“We want to get seniors more involved,” Peterson said, noting that seniors make up just 10 percent of the food shelf’s clients. “We want to make it easier for them to get food.”

Peterson also noted that the Blandin Foundation grant can be extended if the following requirements are met: the food shelf needs to increase food access, the population served must closely resemble area demographics, and all regulatory reports need to be filed on time.

“Joen doesn’t have set hours, but she is constantly working,” she said. “She has got a phone call here, an email there and paperwork at home.”

The board is truly pleased with having Blomberg as the food shelf director, Peterson said.

“Joen is just incredible,” she opined.

But the whole seven-member, volunteer board serves as working staff members, Blomberg said.

“Since the beginning, they’ve all held a critical role,” she said. “They don’t just come to the meetings. They are all hard workers.”

And the rest of the volunteers have been just as vital to the food shelf’s every day operations, Blomberg said.

“They are all incredible, reliable and volunteered for more than 2,000 hours in 2013,” she said. “It’s not a one woman show.”

April in National Volunteer Month!

We are truly blessed to have such amazing volunteers and supporters of our organization. We could not distribute over 4.5 million pounds of food without our 500+ volunteers. They are the lifeline of Second Harvest. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for helping us fulfill our mission to end hunger in north central Minnesota.

"Volunteers, a precious resource we can not afford to lose."

March in Minnesota...

As March draws to a close, it is still winter here in north central Minnesota. People are still dealing with the high cost of heating their homes as the temps rarely rise above freezing. It seems as though no one is catching a break this year. 

If ever you were thinking about making a financial donation to Second Harvest's Grand Rapids Food Shelf, now is the time. From now until April 7th, all donations will receive a proportional match through the Minnesota March FoodShare Campaign which will stretch your dollar even further.

Help us keep food on the tables of our neighbors in need.

Make your online donation here.

Mail your donation to:
Second Harvest Food Shelf
PO Box 5130
Grand Rapids, MN 55744

30th Anniversary Series - March is National Nutrition Month

Today in our food shelf, the produce table is overflowing with fresh fruits and vegetables that are available for our clients to take home.  Peppers, melons, potatoes, carrots and berries are some of the choices.  In the freezer case we have meat including chicken and vegetables.  The refrigerator has 1% milk.  Down the non-perishable aisle you will find beans, canned vegetables, whole wheat pasta and a selection of cereals including whole grain choices. 

Second Harvest Food Bank strives to provide our clients with access to foods that help promote a healthy diet, such as fruits and vegetables, protein, whole grains and low fat dairy.  During National Nutrition Month, Second Harvest, a member of the Feeding America network, recognizes the 1 in 6 Americans who lack access, at times, to enough food for an active, healthy life.  Second Harvest is a reliable source of healthful foods, delivering thousands of pounds of nutritious choices every week to our clients facing hunger. 

Food insecurity has serious health consequences for children and adults.  Children from families that struggle with food insecurity are more likely to have poor physical health and struggle in school.  Being food insecure can lead to obesity because of limited resources, lack of access to healthy, affordable food, high levels of stress and cycles of deprivation and overeating.
 
By providing more healthful food, Second Harvest plays a unique and important role in the fight against hunger and the promotion of good health in the communities we serve.  We are proud to be part of the solution to end hunger. 

Sue Estee, Executive Director