Food drive profile: Donations help hard-working woman in transition
Your donations to The Salvation Army’s March Food Drive help Minnesotans like Fe (pronounced “Fay”).
Fe, 62, recently overcame a two-year battle with depression. She is doing much better now and is ready to start the next chapter of her life (video at bottom).
“I’ve been trying to stay before the Lord and let Him bring forth some healing,” she said. “I’m on another course now.”
Fe has started the process of obtaining a commercial driver’s license to possibly becoming a truck driver. She has worked in construction for decades, spending recent years working with road repair and paving crews in St. Paul and throughout the Midwest.
Overcoming depression and making a work transition have not been easy for Fe, both mentally and financially. Lately she has been working as an Uber driver to pay her bills, but she doesn’t always earn enough money to afford all of the food she needs.
Thanks to your donations, Fe is able to pick up extra food at her local Salvation Army food pantry. She visits there every so often to pick up eggs, milk, fruit, vegetables, and other staples.
“I’m doing OK (financially), I just don’t have funds for refrigerated items and some of the basics,” Fe said. “The Salvation Army is a means for me to live day to day.”
The Salvation Army operates 22 food shelves and 13 hot meals programs in Minnesota, providing nutritious food for tens of thousands of people like Fe.
Our March food drive aims to raise 2 million pounds of food, which is equal to about 1.2 million meals. That’s about 25 percent of the meals The Salvation Army Northern Division distributes annually.
Fe not only appreciates the food she receives at The Salvation Army, but also the camaraderie.
“It’s not just about receiving food – relationships build coming to a place like this,” Fe said. “Thank you to The Salvation Army for helping me.”
Get involved
Please help The Salvation Army raise 2 million pounds of food by donating nonperishables, hosting a food drive, giving a cash donation, or volunteering.
Donate food: In the Twin Cities, drop off nonperishable foods March 2-31 at any SPIRE Credit Union, Schuler Shoes, Morrie’s auto dealer, Salvation Army Store or participating Cub grocery store. See a map of all drop-off locations.
In greater Minnesota, drop off nonperishable foods at your local Salvation Army Worship & Service Center anytime in March.
(High-demand foods include pasta, rice, and peanut butter, plus canned items such as fruit, veggies, and soup.)
Host a food drive: Collect nonperishable foods from friends, neighbors, coworkers, church members, and others. We will send you a Food Drive Starter Kit that includes tips and promotional materials for your website or social media.
When you’ve finished your collection, bring your food to The Salvation Army’s headquarters in Roseville on Saturday, April 2 for a special drive-thru weigh-in event. (Read about successful grassroots food drives from last year’s collection.)
Give a cash donation: Help us feed hungry families by donating online at 2millionpounds.org. A gift of just $50 feeds 69 people for a day.
Volunteer: Got extra time? Support our food drive by helping us unload delivery vehicles, weigh food, stock shelves, and more. Sign up to volunteer now.
Additional food drive sponsors include WCCO and KS95.
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