Since February, St. John’s has been supporting the Food Shelf at St. Nicholas Episcopal Church in South Minneapolis. On a recent typical Saturday, their rector, the Rev. Julie Luna, reports that this ministry shared food and personal care products with 59 families from 9 cities in the Twin Cities metro area.
According to Megan Palmer, a Circle of the Beloved intern, the Food Shelf currently has a biweekly partnership with VEAP in Bloomington, so they’re able to get fresh produce and grains and they almost always have enough food to go around. However, there is a near constant need for the personal care items listed below:
- Toilet paper
- Hand soap and bar soap
- Hand sanitizer
- Razors
- Tampons and pads
- Shaving cream or gel
- Toothpaste and toothbrushes
- Deodorant
- Shampoo and conditioner
- Diapers
- Dish soap
- Laundry detergent
In addition to personal care items, there’s always demand for school supplies (notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, folders, binders, art supplies, simple calculators) and the following staples:
- Cooking oil
- Rice
- Beans
- Masa
- Flour
- Pasta
- Snacks for kids
- Boxed cereal
- Oatmeal
If you are able to contribute items for this ministry, please place them in the blue basket labelled St. Nick’s Donation List, which you will find in the meeting space. Questions? Contact Caron Stebinger.