Food drive profile: Donations help mom battling cancer
Your donations to The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive help Minnesotans like Teri, a wife and mother from Brooklyn Park who has battled colon cancer since 2021. Donate now.
Teri’s diagnosis has been devastating to her husband and three kids, ages 11, 16 and 20. Their lives have been turned upside down the past three years while she has endured surgery and chemotherapy.
“Cancer puts a whole new perspective on your life and how you live it,” Teri said.
She has spent years on leave from her job at a mortgage company. Meanwhile, the family’s only source of income has been Teri’s husband, who works for the city of Columbia Heights.
During these difficult times, Teri and her family have relied on your gifts to The Salvation Army to get them through.
Since late 2022, Teri has been coming to the Brooklyn Park Salvation Army for food shelf services. Every week she receives a large box filled with meat, fruit, vegetables, bread, and more.
“Being able to not worry about food is nice when there are so many other bills to think about,” Teri said. “I’m so thankful The Salvation Army is here.”
Teri uses our food shelf to help others as well. Whenever she picks up food for her family, she picks up another box of food for her neighbor.
“Our neighbor is a single mom with two boys who play sports with my kids,” Teri said. “Whatever foods our families don’t eat, we give to other kids on the sports teams because some of them don’t get enough food at home. They are always so grateful.”
Thankfully, Teri probably won’t need The Salvation Army’s help much longer. Doctors recently announced her cancer is in remission and she can go back to work.
“We think we’ve got it beat!” Teri said excitedly.
She remains thankful for your donations to The Salvation Army during her hard-fought journey.
“We appreciate everything The Salvation Army does,” Teri said. “We just can’t thank you enough.”
How to Help
Please support The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive by donating nonperishables, hosting a food drive, giving a cash donation, or volunteering. Your generosity will fill the stomachs of people and families hungry for help.
Donate food in the Twin Cities by dropping off nonperishable foods Feb. 29–March 28 at Blaze Credit Union locations, Morrie’s auto dealers, Slumberland Furniture, Schuler Shoes, or Salvation Army Store locations. (Download a grocery list of high-demand foods.)
You can also bring food to the KARE 11 news studio, 8811 Olson Mem Hwy in Golden Valley, for a special weigh-in event on Thursday, March 28 from 12–6 p.m. Throughout March, KARE 11 personalities are gathering donations through their “Food Fight” food drive to support The Salvation Army.
Donate food in greater Minnesota by dropping off nonperishable foods Feb. 29–March 28 at your local Salvation Army Worship & Service Center.
Pop-up food collections will be held in the Twin Cities throughout March at the grocery store locations below. Stop by to donate food and receive free swag from participating partners.
- Thursday, March 21, 4:30–6:30 p.m., Cub in Oakdale. Minnesota Twins mascot TC Bear will appear 5:30–6:30 p.m.
- Tuesday, March 26, 5–7 p.m., Lunds & Byerlys in Roseville
Donate online: Help us feed local families by giving online. Your donation will be used to purchase food for Salvation Army food pantries nearest to your billing ZIP code.
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. (Read about successful grassroots food drives from previous years.)
When you’ve finished your collection, bring your food to the KARE 11 news studio, 8811 Olson Mem Hwy in Golden Valley, for a special weigh-in event on Thursday, March 28 from 12–6 p.m.
Volunteer: Do you have time to spare? Support our food drive by helping us unload delivery vehicles, weigh food, stock shelves, and more. Sign up to volunteer now.
