Ed’s Letter in the Annandale Advocate
Photo by Aaron Doucett on Unsplash
Today is Christmas Eve day and I am reflecting on this past year even though it isn’t over yet. We started 2021 with a big black cloud over us. Covid 19 was still very prevalent and we could not see the end of the tunnel. Worldwide it was and is a horrendous epidemic and we were not prepared. Some denied its existence but the death of so many friends and relatives has proven its presence. In no time in we realized this killer virus was here to stay and have no idea how long it will last. It has affected so many lives, those in the medical field, the workforce in general. Schools have been closed though no one enjoyed distance learning. Some lucky people managed to work from home. We realized this virus was not a quick flash in the pan so many of us took precautions. Others thought they were invincible. It’s their choice.
Your Annandale Food Shelf hunkered down and took very positive steps to safeguard our volunteers and clients. We believed we should error on the safe side.
Feeling that this epidemic was here to stay for a while we quickly began stocking up on food and other necessities. Our coolers, freezers and shelves were stuffed. With a limited number of volunteers in order to reduce our exposure, we were ready to support the mass of hungry members of the community. The rush to get food never happened in fact we gave out less than in normal times. This had us baffled, where were the hungry getting their food. We can only surmise that they were using their stimulus checks to buy groceries. Because of the abundance of food we have, the clients who came to come to our door were provided with more food than normal. By Fridays, most of our perishables would not last until Monday so we developed relationships with farmers to take produce and bakery products for their pigs and chickens. We were not about to let this food go to the landfills. And this still works. What bothered us was we knew many people within the community were in need of food. We encouraged our clients to tell their family members and friends that we had excellent food to share with the community. Walmart and Target in Monticello and Market Place in Annandale provided us with nourishing food that had not reached its sell-by date when it was pulled from their shelves or frozen. When we gave out meat we were somewhat envious since we received some high-end cuts from them that we passed over when shopping in the grocery stores. We simply could not afford it.
When Jean and I started working 20 years ago we did not have the freezers, coolers, or shelving to support this quality of food. Our normal staples were beans, Kraft dinner, wieners and if lucky we had hamburger. Clients did not have a choice of what they would get. They got what we had or thought they should have. We knew some of this food wasn’t eaten because it came back to us in food drives. Our community was aware that no one at our food shelf received any compensation and donations over the years had allowed us to keep our inventory maxed with great healthy choices.
When it comes to food we never turn down any donations even if we have sufficient stock. At times we get donations so large we have no room so a volunteer will take the excess to Place of Hope in St. Cloud who feed around 300 homeless each day. We like to send a few goodies or excess produce to Senior Dining. Our Assistant Director puts together food and meal plans for weekend backpacks for Annandale and Maple Lake School children in need. Our Senior Delivery program is steadily growing since the pandemic started.
Our largest fundraiser is the Holiday Train. In Annandale Anchor Dock and Lift, since its inception, collects the largest donation. When their vendors and clients are invited to their Christmas Train Party, Anchor Dock and Lift is not bashful in saying, “And remember, bring money”. Even though they haven’t had their party for two years the Christmas letter always states “remember Annandale Food Shelf” and they have. Because of Covid 19 last year the Canadian Pacific Railway did not want to expose people to the virus and they entertained the public with a virtual Holiday Train. Even without the train the community gave from their hearts and donated almost $22,000. Again, this year the CPR continued to entertain the communities with a virtual Holiday Train and it brought in almost $31,000. CPR donates $4,500.00 each year.
On behalf of all our dedicated volunteers, we are so grateful to Anchor Dock, businesses, churches, organizations and individuals who support us. You cannot imagine how important your donations are. Please find some time to drop around and see your contributions at work. We could not accomplish what we did this year without your generous support. Masks and hand sanitizer required.
We are always here for anyone in need of food where you will be treated with respect and kindness. Remember, if we don’t feed our hungry, who will? Bless you all.
Ed Skomoroh
President Annandale Food Shelf