Stevens County Food Shelf

Many people in Stevens County do not have the basic necessities that some of us enjoy without thinking about it.

It is your cash contributions that allow us to continue to serve those of our community who need our services most. This is because of our ability to purchase food at a discount from food banks, like North Country in Crookston, MN.

And because we operate mainly with volunteers, except for 1 paid Coordinator who oversees our program, the majority of your donations are used to provide emergency and supplemental food to individuals, families, and children in Stevens County.

Please visit our campaign page to support our mission to continue feeding food insecure people in Stevens County.

Helping the food insecure of our community just got easier! Now you can donate to the Stevens County Food Shelf on your smartphone by sending us a text.
Just text “FEEDSTEVENS” to 44-321 to receive a link to our mobile-ready campaign page. Your cash donations greatly benefit those in our community who are experiencing food insecurity. Please consider a generous donation today!

The members of the board would like to send out our most gracious thanks to everyone who helped us keep the Food Shelf successful in 2020.

With a year full of necessary pivots to answer unexpected challenges, we would like to take the time to appreciate all our volunteers, vendors who have donated their time and expertise, and all the generous donors we have had throughout the year.

The Stevens County Food Shelf would not be where it is today without the generosity of our community. We wish you all a blessed New Year!

• Donny Wohlers
• Mary Jo Forbord
• Liberty Sleiter
• Stephanie Knobloch
• Melissa Harrison
• Risa Dorweiler
• and Doug Ehlers

Volunteers, Vendors, Donors, Community members, EVERYONE! The Stevens County Food Shelf now has it’s own email address.

It is:
stevenscountyfoodshelf@gmail.com.

We have also added it to the info at the bottom of this page, so it will be readily available to visitors of our site.

The Stevens County Food Shelf Board of Directors is seeking a Coordinator to serve as the lead staff person for our Food Shelf located at 701 Iowa Avenue in Morris, MN. The Coordinator is responsible for the overall operation of the Food Shelf and works directly with the Board of Directors.

The ideal candidate has a strong commitment to our mission of alleviating hunger in our community and experience in working with food programs, volunteer coordination and support. Excellent communication and organizational skills are required.

This position is part-time (10 hrs/week) with a starting pay of $18-$20/hour depending on experience. To apply, submit a cover letter and resume to libertysleiter@co.stevens.mn.us by December 1, 2020.

~ Position Opening Announcement

~ Food Shelf Coordinator Job Description

Stevens County Food Shelf Board of Directors

Donny Wohlers, Chair

Mary Jo Forbord, Vice Chair

Stephanie Knobloch, Secretary

Melissa Harrison, Treasurer

Risa Dorweiler, Director

Doug Ehlers, Director

Liberty Sleiter, Ex Officio Director

A while back, due to concerns related to COVID-19, we instructed those who wish to donate food to drop it off at the Old No. 1.

We are now asking that donations of food be brought directly to the Food Shelf during open hours.

Our address and hours can be found at the bottom of this web page. Thank you!

Stevens County Food Shelf Board of Directors Public Statement March 23, 2020

Stevens County Food Shelf has made some difficult but necessary changes to its operations. To minimize risk of CoVid‑19 infection, drive-up only food distribution is offered at the Food Shelf 5 days a week at the following times:

• Monday 2:30-3:30 pm
• Tuesday 10:30-11:30 am
• Wednesday 10:30-11:30 am
• Thursday 5:30-6:30 pm
• Friday 10:30-11:30 am

People are asked to drive up to the Food Shelf and stay in their vehicles. A Food Shelf volunteer will come out to assist them. Food Shelf volunteers are required to ask the person’s name, zip code, the number of people in the household, and how many are under 18 and over 65 years of age. Volunteers are also required to ask a question about weekly income and if this is the first visit to the Food Shelf.

The Food Shelf will distribute pre-packed boxes containing approximately 14 days of emergency food per person, with the option to return for more food in 14 days. We are working to distribute the food we have as safely and efficiently as possible, and we are assured that there is more food in the supply chain.

We ask that community members check in on neighbors who may need food assistance, but lack
transportation. Community members may assist others in need by providing the required information to a food shelf volunteer during distribution hours and transporting food back to the people in need. Thank you.

Donations are no longer accepted on site at the Foodshelf. Instead, food donations are welcomed at this drop site in downtown Morris: Old #1 on Atlantic Avenue, rear entrance between the hours of 11 am and 7 pm.

Please leave food donations inside the Old #1 back door without notifying or contacting anyone. Guidelines for most needed donations will be updated as needs change.

We highly encourage everyone to generously support the food shelf by donating securely online at:
stevenscountyfoodshelf.org or mailing a check to Stevens County Food Shelf, 701 Iowa Ave. Morris, MN 56267, or by placing your check in the drop box at the Court House.

The health and safety of Stevens County Food Shelf volunteers is of utmost importance. We have had to make the difficult decision to temporarily replace long time volunteers in higher risk categories with volunteers between the ages of 18 and 60 with no underlying health conditions and no symptoms of illness; and have implemented additional measures to safeguard volunteers and the people we serve.

We sincerely thank all of our volunteers, especially those who have given many hours over many years. The Food Shelf wouldn’t be here in this time of great need without them.

We are making every effort to keep our community safe and fed. We thank everyone for your hard work,
patience and resolve as we meet unprecedented food needs together and move through this very difficult time.

Stevens County Food Shelf Board of Directors

Donny Wohlers, Chair

Mary Jo Forbord, Vice Chair

Stephanie Knobloch, Secretary

Melissa Harrison, Treasurer

~ PRINT A COPY

The Stevens County Food Shelf donation site has changed to Old #1 on Atlantic Avenue. Use the BACK ENTRANCE to drop off donations 7 days a week from 11 am to 7 pm. Please leave the food in the back entrance–no need to notify anyone that it’s there or have any contact with anyone.. Donny Wohlers and his family will sort and deliver donations to the Food Shelf. Thank you very much Wohler family!

Food donated needs to be labeled, unopened, not damaged and still within the “best if used by” date.
Donate full cases of one kind of product if possible.

Examples of what foods are most needed now to keep our community well nourished and immune systems strong:

• Peanut butter
• Dried Milk
• Canned fruit
• Canned vegetables
• Canned stew
• Canned fish
• Canned or dried beans (any kind of bean with limited added ingredients preferred)
• Pasta
• Rice
• Toilet paper
• Vegetable oil, 1 quart size or less

We expect the list of “most needed” will change, so we will keep you updated here! Thank you.

Want to give your Food Shelf maximum flexibility? Please consider online donations at stevenscountyfoodshelf.org so that the Food Shelf can purchase fresh fruits and vegetables and other nutritious and needed items locally. Thank you!