New facility brings new opportunities

As Waseca County Food Shelf volunteer and Chamber of Commerce member Bev Herfindahl put it, “It was a long time coming.” But the Waseca County Food Shelf found its home Thursday, December 8, next to the Neighborhood Service Center at 203 Third Ave NW.

The food shelf celebrated the move with an open house, a ribbon cutting at 4 p.m., and some brisket served to the public prepared by food shelf volunteer Jim Britton.

Waseca Chamber member Bernie Gaytko highlighted that the food shelf has weathered some difficult complications in its recent past, dealing with ceiling issues in its former home, trusses falling off, and even a fire that set it back from investing in its future. The service had to move temporarily from its one-time location on Second Avenue to Sacred Heart Catholic Church.

Herfindahl summarized the food shelf’s journey to its new facility. “We’ve rented a lot of space until now. When we moved to the church, we knew it wasn’t handicap accessible. So we needed to be more proactive.”

Out of the vacant spaces available in town, the food shelf was unable to find a space which met all its needs and was within its price range–which, Herfindahl admitted, was “pretty minimal.” “We decided we had this lot by the Neighborhood Service Center and we would build,” she said. “Jim Britton stepped up to make this happen. It’s really going to be nice for us in this building.”

Britton distributed many thanks, starting with the contractors. “They bent over backwards to get this done,” he explained.

It was as if building at the new location was meant to be. Now connected to the thrift store next door, both places can serve as a one-stop shop for those in need of food or clothing.

Britton shared a story about special needs kids packing food for the school district’s backpack program. “They were helping an old lady, and I just had tears in my eyes,” he said.

There was another situation when Britton was working at the food shelf and he asked a lady if she needed help. “Her husband was a breadwinner who was injured. The family didn’t have any food. I said, ‘That’s what we’re here for.’”

The food shelf may have gone through some tough times. But according to Herfindahl, neither supply nor demand have decreased. “We have unbelievable amounts of food that come in every day,” she claimed. “We can’t keep on top of it all. But it goes out just as fast as it comes in.”

Chamber member Bernie Gaytko asked both Britton and Herfindahl what the biggest need is for the food shelf.

“It will always be money,” Herfindahl replied. “We are still raising funds to pay off costs for constructing the new food shelf. But we appreciate every piece of food or clothing, whatever anyone can donate.”

“Be can buy a lot for a dollar from our non-profit partners like Walmart and Kwik Trip,” Britton added.

Another partner for the Waseca County Food Shelf is Channel One Regional Food Bank, which works with Waseca and 13 other counties to supply food to local food shelves. Representing the food bank at the open house was its Programs and Agency Services Director Jennifer Belisle.

“We’d like to congratulate you on your new location,” Belisle said. “We’ve been cheering you on through your fire and move. We are grateful to have it as one of our partner food shelves in our 14-county community.”

Before the celebration concluded, Britton gave special thanks to Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Trevor Kanewischer for allowing the food shelf to use their freezers to store items. He gave an additional, tearful thanks to the Waseca Bantam AA boys’ hockey team.

“We couldn’t have done it without them,” he said. “The boys did most of the work and the adults more or less guided them. It was a tremendous move done within hours.”

If in need of food or clothing, the food shelf encourages area residents to visit the Neighborhood Service Center. “The food shelf has no income guidelines,” Herfindahl assured. “All we ask is that you are in need of food.”

The food shelf is thankful for the community support and hopes it can relay its thanks in return by providing adequate support for those in need. “It takes a whole community,” Herfindahl concluded. “And that community isn’t just Waseca. It’s the whole county.”