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Demand at the service’s food shelf increased by 121 families in October — 625 to 746 — compared with the same time last year. That’s a 19 percent increase, and part of an 80 percent increase in the past six years.
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Andrew Behling, 9, right, a third-grader at Bluffview Montessori School and Skyler Vandermaten, 4, a preschooler at Winona Christian Preschool, place bags of food items in a barrel Monday at Merchant’s Bank in Winona to kick off the "10 Days of Giving" food drive. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the community-wide collection in support of the Food Shelf programs in Winona County.
(Photo by Melissa Carlo/Winona Daily News) |
Almost one-third of the shelf’s food comes from the 10 Days food drive, an annual collection started by Merchants Bank in 1989 to help low-income families with limited resources. This year, organizers say it is more important than ever to donate because so many families need help.
“Folks that would contribute to the food shelf are now realizing they need us,” Winona Volunteer Services Executive Director Sandra Burke said.
Many of the people using the food shelf are employed but have had hours cut or just aren’t making enough to keep up with rising costs, Burke said. She dreads considering what could happen if the drive doesn’t collect enough food to meet the community’s needs.
“That’s not an option,” she said. “Every time we’ve told the story, people come through for us.”
Last year, 10 Days of Giving collected 91,588 pounds of food, pushing the all-time total to more than 1 million pounds. A record was set in 2006, when 102,261 pounds were collected.
Organizers hope to set a new record this year. “Unfortunately the need is still there — only it’s greater,” Merchants Bank President Rod Nelson said. “This is the most important year we’ve ever had.”
When the drive began, the effort was limited to local schools, which collected 15,000 pounds of food. It has since expanded to include more than 30 schools and day care centers and more than 70 businesses.
The drive’s organizers welcome cash donations in addition to food, since Burke can use money to buy food at lower costs through food bank Channel One in Rochester, Minn. Each dollar buys about two pounds of food, Burke estimated.
This year’s campaign is off to a good start thanks to a $10,000 anonymous donation and a $500 donation from Mayor Jerry Miller’s sons Willie and Jeremy.
“I’m confident we will get through this,” Mayor Miller said. “We know what we have to do, so let’s do this.”
ITEMS NEEDED AND WHERE TO GIVE
Foods needed this year include canned soup, peanut butter, diabetic foods, canned fish or meat, low-fat or low-salt canned foods, canned fruit and juices, hot and cold cereals, pasta, rice and canned spaghetti sauce.
Donations can be made at Winona Volunteer Services, 416 E. Second St., from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays, at area business and at the following events:
For more information, call Winona Volunteer Services at 452-5591.
