Give food to families to fight hunger

Feeding people has been a strong motif in my life. As a mother, as a food reporter for the Star Tribune, and as a cookbook author, food and nutrition are my passion.

When I read about the opening of Burnsville’s new food shelf here at 360 Communities, I signed on a year ago.

I love working in this clean, light, airy room. There’s a big door where families drive up for their bags of food. Shelves line the walls, neatly labeled for easy stocking and order-filling. Orders ready for pick up go on shelves in the center of the room. One long table holds baked goods; another holds seasonal items. This summer it was piled with home-grown vegetables.

And I enjoy the camaraderie of the other members of the Friday morning team. Our leader, volunteer Bill Ganz, is constantly dreaming up ways of getting more food: from restaurants, from county fair goers, you name it.

There’s a freezer and refrigerator so families can have frozen meats and pizzas and, when available, fresh berries and veggies. We have a jolly Friday morning crew, working hard, teasing each other. My preferred job is packing orders, loading the heavy canned goods into the bottom, the lighter items, such as pasta, on the top.

I recently read that “Hunger in America is not starvation but food insecurity. The facts are that one in four households with children has food hardship. America needs to work on the roots of poverty, but make sure children have food today.”

360 Communities collaborative efforts with food shelves, schools, police departments, faith communities and other community partners like you will help to change lives and strengthen communities.

Why not donate to 360 Communities today? We’re doing our bit to fight hunger in our community.

- Ann L. Burckhardt