Twin Cities woman inspires with grassroots food drive
How often have you heard about someone in need and thought, “I wish I could do something,” before getting back to your busy life? It’s a common experience. But one Edina woman’s story may inspire us all to do a little more.
It all started last fall, when Patty Crater (pictured) heard about the need for food shelf items at the N. Lyndale Ave. Salvation Army in Minneapolis. It’s one of the busiest food shelves in the Twin Cities, often frequented by people who still haven’t recovered from the North Minneapolis tornado of 2011.
So Crater decided to create her own drive, calling on friends and neighbors to help during the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign.
“I thought gosh, I can host a couple of barrels,” she explained. “I’ve always had a heart for anything mission related.”
Before Crater knew it, four other friends agreed to place Salvation Army collection barrels in their neighborhoods. Within two weeks, they had already collected more than 200 pounds of food and hygiene supplies.
“Patty is an absolute inspiration,” said Emily Shopek, lead social worker at the N. Lyndale Ave. Salvation Army. “She has been unbelievable blessing for us.”
Tonya Taylor, a health secretary at a local hospital, said her family relies on this food shelf every month.
“I think it’s great that (Crater) would do that,” Taylor said. “It’s always at the end of the month, money gets a little tight then and this helps out a lot.”
Alana Carrington runs the food shelf at this location and she hopes Crater’s efforts inspire others.
“It makes a huge difference – she went above and beyond the call of anything I’ve seen in my five years here,” Carrington said.
Crater herself is quick to dismiss that kind of praise, but she realizes that every little bit helps, particularly when people pull together.
“It’s really the pay it forward, it’s the domino effect … it does not have to be an unbelievable amount of stuff to make a difference,” she explained.
And now she hopes other people may be inspired to jump in, too, even after the March campaign is over.
If this story made you think, “I wish I could do something,” you can right now by giving to The Salvation Army during the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. Just $1.79 buys a hot meal and $15 buys a bag of groceries.