Need YOUR Help with March Food Drive

During the month of March, Mary & Martha’s Pantry of Westbrook will be participating in the annual food drive sponsored by Minnesota Food Share. This year, the campaign is calling for everyone to “be a superhero in the Minnesota fight against hunger.” With support from civic groups, businesses, congregations, schools and individuals, Minnesota Food Share is working to raise 12 million combined pounds and dollars. Every year for more than a quarter of a century, food shelves throughout the state have relied on Minnesota Food Share's March Campaign for support as they bring hope to those struggling to put food on the table. We are partnering with Western Community Action, Inc., as part of this year's campaign and we are asking for your help. All donations that are received during the month of March allow us eligibility for incentive grants from Minnesota Food Share and the Feinstein Foundation. These incentive grants are equal to approximately 50 cents for each dollar donated. We really want to capitalize on this generous opportunity as every extra donation enables us to better serve our customers.

The 12 million combined pounds and dollars represents a record goal for the March Campaign because the need at the 300 food shelves around the state is sobering:

- In 2009 alone, there were almost 3 million food shelf visits statewide and 61 million pounds of food was distributed to Minnesota families by food shelves.
Of those who visit food shelves, 56% are parents with children.

- The elderly comprised 15% of food shelf clients.

- Approximately 60% of those who visit food shelves are working poor.

- Almost 14 percent of households in Minnesota were unable to afford enough food.

- A growing number of Minnesotans – many working and living in the suburbs and from middle-class backgrounds – are turning to food shelves for help.

You can help Mary & Martha’s Pantry of Westbrook to better serve these populations by helping us with this food drive during the entire month of March. We are attempting to help those within a 25 mile radius of Westbrook. This area covers the communities and surrounding rural areas of Westbrook, Walnut Grove, Currie, Dovray, Storden, Jeffers and Lamberton. In turn, we especially need the support of everyone living in those communities.

There are two main methods that you can help us stock the shelves, food/product donations or cash -- or both!

If you are interested in helping us with the food/product donations, please note the list of items that our Pantry usually has a large demand for:

Pancake Mix
Syrup
Spaghetti Sauce (can or jar)
Canned Tuna (water or oil)
Canned Chicken
Pasta (spaghetti noodles, macaroni, egg noodles)
Paper Towels
Toilet Paper
Dry Milk
Flour (5 lb)
Sugar (4 lb)
Brown Sugar (2 lb)
Juice, Apple, Orange or Grape
Toothpaste (and toothbrushes)
Bath Soap (Zest, Dial, etc, etc)
Laundry Soap

If you are interested in helping us with a monetary donation, here are some reasons that cash donations are important to food shelves:

- Cash donations allow food shelves to buy food items that they do not receive through donations.

- Cash donations may be used to purchase food at a much lower cost per pound than the average consumer can.

- Cash donations are stretched because many food shelves engage in cooperative bulk purchasing, whereby the more you buy, the lower the price.

- Cash does not dent, spoil or expire.

The momentum to help meet this continuing need is already building throughout the state. Groups are planning unique events, including door-to-door food pickups, stuffing a fish house with food, donating for casual days at work and packing a meal on Sundays. All this and more to help the March Campaign raise more than half the food distributed through food shelves in the state.

Please, consider making a donation for the March Food Drive. We greatly appreciate the generous contributions that have been made in past years. We also know that our ability to serve the vulnerable members of our community is enabled by the strength and commitment of our community. Thank you for your help!