Throughout March, Border State Bank is partnering with a plethora local residents, churches and more to act as the central drop-off point to collect food and financial donations for Falls Hunger Coalition.
The nonprofit works across Koochiching County and the entire effort is part of the annual statewide Minnesota FoodShare Campaign.
In addition to helping coordinate the undertaking, Border State Bank, 1414 U.S. Highway 71, will match up to $1,000 of all local funds and food collected, according to a bank news release.
That’s significant, organizers said, since nonprofit Falls Hunger Coalition, 1000 Fifth St., can translate each dollar donated into six pounds of food “because of our access to discount products and programs,” according to www.fallshunger.org.
“It’s so great they can buy more for less,” said Allison Harder, marketing director for Roseau, Minn.,’s Border State Bank. “We could end up with tons of food.”
All food and cash donations will go directly to the food shelves in need so Falls Hunger Coalition can “help in the fight against hunger in our community,” according to the release.
The locally owned bank also is weighing the food items brought in as a way to assist the campaign, said Sue Natysin, a bank business officer and local campaign organizer.
Each March, Minnesota FoodShare guides what it said is the state’s largest food drive and restocks almost 300 food shelves. Over the years, the campaign has grown while FoodShare continues to assist thousands more congregations, companies, schools and community groups put together their own food drives, according to mnfoodshare.gmcc.org/.
Natysin added that they’re having a little fun internal competition as well.
“This year, we decided it’s guys against girls, but we only have one guy (bank President David Hebig) working here, so he got to choose five other people in the community,” she said. “He’s calling them his ‘Dream Team.’”
Last year, statewide Minnesota FoodShare raised $8.4 million and more than 4.4 million pounds of food. Its goal for just March — its traditional hunger awareness month — is to raise at least $1 million, Harder said.
And the need is clear, local advocates said. For instance, two years ago, more than 15 percent of northeastern Minnesotans used food shelves, according to the latest data available.
A great deal of those in need have jobs, but get paid little or are under-employed. Many participants are retired, laid off or suffer from significant mental health or physical problems, according to Falls Hunger Coalition.
To learn more about how to participate in the food shelf campaign, call Border Bank at 283-5556 or Minnesota FoodShare at 612-276-1530.
Falls Hunger Coalition also offers a number of other programs, such as emergency housing and fresh-food vouchers. Call 283-8020, or go online for more details.
