“It was just dimmer, not as crisp and clean looking, dimmer and darker,” says Food Shelf President Sheri Hanson.”
Now Hanson says the lighting is much improved.
“I feel more energy when I come into a space that’s a brighter space and moving and seeing things, reading labels is a lot easier,” she says.
Hanson says the numbers of needy families that come through is not as high as it was around the holidays, but even a year after it began, the pandemic continues to impact families.
“Maybe the head of the household may have lost a job or has a business that’s not doing well. Some of these families are coming in with more needs, and some are quite large,” she says.
Donations have allowed the food shelf here to serve families twice a month rather than just once. During the month of March, the Minnesota Food Share Campaign can help keep that going. It’s a big boost to food shelves all across the state.
“We want to avoid a COVID induced hunger crisis in the state of Minnesota,” says Anesu Masakure of the Minnesota Food Share Campaign. “So if we can raise as much money as possible and as much food as possible during this time, then struggling families will have access to adequate food. That’s the goal, to promote food equity and access.”
Money donated to Minnesota Food Share is distributed to food panties statewide based on how many people they serve. At Centennial, it’s a boost that will help them continue to serve families twice a month.
“This Food Share month gives us another opportunity to increase and help support these families,” Hanson says.
This is the 40th year of the March Minnesota FoodShare Drive. It runs through April 11. You can donate by going to their website, mnfoodshare.org
