Twice a week you can find Sue Romppanen hard at work inside ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka. She and many other volunteers sort clothes and food that serves more than 30,000 people throughout the year.
“I volunteer here because it is a very worthwhile organization,” she says with a smile.
“We serve a lot of people… and a lot of grateful people. I just feel really good after every shift I've done.”
Volunteers are especially anxious for donations this month. March is Minnesota FoodShare month. A percentage of every donation received in March is matched during the summer months, when donations traditionally go down, and visits go up.
Coon Rapids senior, Cherry Rosenwald, visits ACBC monthly. She understands well the difference a donation to the food shelf can make.
“If they saw the families that come in - the children - that would open their wallets just like that,” says Rosenwald of potential donors.
Rosenwald knows ACBC has a noticeable impact on her life.
“I would say huge. My once a month visit sustains me for, I'd say, probably a good two weeks. I don't know what I'd do without it. I really don't.”
And beyond the much needed food and clothes ACBC provides, it is also a great source of friendship.
“The people are so kind and friendly,” says Rosenwald, “I mean, they remember your name and what you like to eat and so forth… it's just a blessing.”
A portion of all donations made by March 31st will be matched as part of the Minnesota FoodShare Month campaign. ACBC accepts food and clothing, but cash has the greatest impact. For every dollar donated to ACBC, they can purchase enough food for three meals.
ACBC Food Shelf in Anoka accepts donations by mail or in person at 2615 9th Ave N, Anoka, MN 55303.
Learn more at http://www.acbcfoodshelf.com or call 763-422-0046.
Jennifer Anderson reporting
janderson@ctnstudios.com