Ralph Reeder Food Shelf

Dear Friends of the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf,

Our Ralph Reeder Food Shelf team is working tirelessly to meet an increased demand for food as we continue to navigate uncharted waters. It has been a time of challenge and adjustment for all of us. As the unknowns surrounding the Coronavirus continue, stress and fear are at an all-time high for many. In late March, we made the decision to drastically change our model to accommodate the need for social distancing while helping to flatten the curve. Our new fast, safe and contactless drive up model allows us to safely provide food, hygiene and cleaning supplies to hundreds of families each week with minimal staff and volunteers, keeping all involved as safe as possible at this time.

For the nearly 500 individuals that are served through our drive up market each week, financial and food insecurity continue to grow. Every week we receive countless calls from panicked parents who have lost their jobs, seniors sheltered in place without food and working families fighting to make ends meet on reduced hours. Those who had been previously food insecure are going without more often than not. We are currently seeing 25% more people each month than we did prior to the outbreak and stay at home orders.

Ralph Reeder Food Shelf is rising to the challenge. We have added on additional staff so that we can keep most of our high risk volunteers home and safe. We have doubled the number of times a family can receive food each month and thanks to our partners we are delivering food directly into the homes of seniors, vulnerable individuals and those without transportation. We continue to connect people to important resources via phone and referrals to other service partners.

 We continue to need your help to flatten out hunger now that we have flattened the curve. There is no doubt that for much of the population we serve, the repercussions of this pandemic will linger for years. Any help you can provide will fill immediate needs as well as provide for long term stability so that we may continue to feed hungry children, adults and seniors negatively impacted by Covid19.

In appreciation,

Lisa Baker
Basic Needs Manager - Mounds View Public Schools
 Ralph Reeder Food Shelf  651-621-6282

www.moundsviewschools.org