Cook County Food Shelf provides more fresh foods

Providing hungry families and seniors with fresh, healthy food has long been a goal of the Cook County Food Shelf. In the past year, the Food Shelf has created the new “Fresh Produce Voucher” program to allow people to choose their own fresh produce.

Throughout the country, hunger relief programs and food shelves are realizing the important role they play in supporting people with limited financial resources by providing healthier and fresher foods.

Last year, Cook County Food Shelf partnered with the Sawtooth Mountain Clinic, Minnesota Extension, and AEOA through a Community Transformation Grant to find a new way to provide greater access to fresh produce.

The Food Shelf was already offering fresh produce for part of the month thanks to generous donations from St. John’s Catholic Church. The Food Shelf Board saw that people loved the fresh produce, but it was difficult for the volunteers to handle, difficult to store and it didn’t last for clients later in the month. Together, the partners created a new produce voucher worth $10, which can be redeemed at any local grocery store for the purchase of fresh fruits or vegetables only, and can be used at any time they shop.

The fresh produce voucher program kicked off this spring, and it has been a great success. “We were in a position to use more money towards food for families, and we could have added more non-perishable food to the box. But we decided to put it towards these fresh produce vouchers instead,” said Food Shelf board member Steve Deschene.

“The fresh produce voucher helps support the local grocers as well. And it gives people more options, to use at any store for what they want,” said board member Sharon Hendrickson.

For information about the fresh produce program, contact Steve Deschene at 387-1767, Gwen or Bill Lenz at 387- 9860, or First Congregational Church at 387-2113.

The Cook County Food Shelf is located in the lower level of the Congregational Church in Grand Marais every Monday from 3-5 p.m., and the first Wednesday from 5-7 p.m. The Food Shelf serves 100-125 families throughout Cook County.