Key to providing nutritious food to our neighbors and engaging the community in the fight against hunger is raising awareness about the local need. We did that recently with a letter in MinnPost, helping to answer the question we’re often asked: Why are there still food lines? We added our perspective to a Star Tribune article on the topic, too.
It’s not only about the need but the impact our work makes every day, for thousands of Minnesotans each week. We’ve been collecting shopper stories to help describe the power of a full cupboard. Learn more about Jonathan, Luther, Gina, Beth & Barb, Lisa, and Susan – each shoppers at Today’s Harvest, each with their own unique story.
Frustrated and disheartened by a system that wasn’t working as he felt like it was intended, Jonathan shifted into problem-solver mode. At the referral of a friend, Jonathan visited a North St. Paul food shelf – his first time ever shopping at a free market.
He was impressed by and grateful for what was available to him, but he lived in Woodbury and couldn’t reasonably make the drive – or spend the gas money – visiting again. So he Googled ‘food shelves near me’ and up popped Open Cupboard’s Oakdale free, fresh market, Today’s Harvest.
“When I got to Today’s Harvest, it immediately felt different,” Jonathan described. “I didn’t have to make an appointment or fill out an application. It’s not hard to fill out applications, but having that step before you even walk in feels unnecessary and intrusive and cold.”
There’s so much more to Jonathan’s story. Read it here.
When Luther woke up one spring morning unable to see out of either eye, the anxiety, fear and stress were immediate. An emergency room visit and several follow up appointments later, Luther was diagnosed with Angular Closure Glaucoma, a rare condition for someone his age, especially since there was no family history of glaucoma. His eye pressure was dangerously high, reaching levels that were far above the normal range, causing excruciating pain.
He would have tried to work through the constant, crushing pain, but vision was essential to his demanding work driving to properties, processing paperwork on the computer, and constantly taking and making phone calls. Immediately without a job – without steady income and affordable health insurance – his wife, Umorow sprung into action figuring out how to meet the family’s immediate needs. Her resourcefulness led her to find Open Cupboard and its Today’s Harvest free, fresh market, just a 10-minute drive from their home.
There’s so much more to Luther’s story. Read it here.
As a kid, Gina never imagined being rich or having a lot of money when she grew up. She also didn’t see herself enrolled in public assistance programs or shopping at a free market. That’s partly because she didn’t think she would be divorced and raising two boys in her mid-30s.
“The day I finally came, I left thinking, ‘I can’t believe I am leaving with two grocery bags.’ I try to come most days when it works.”
For Gina, Today’s Harvest brings peace of mind and reduced stress. The ease of the experience, how welcoming staff and volunteers are, makes shopping enjoyable, for her and her kids.
There’s so much more to Gina’s story. Read it here.
Caregiving comes naturally for Beth and Barb. It started when the twin sisters were just seven years old and their mother delivered another set of twins, this time boys, and the expanded family needed helping hands.
Now 63 years old, caregiving has been the theme of their lives. But so, too, has struggle. Both worked, Beth as a sign language interpreter and Barb as a photographer, but their paychecks couldn’t keep up with expenses or with the challenges life threw at their family.
There’s so much more to Beth and Barb’s story. Read it here.
Two years ago, Lisa made the difficult decision to leave the life she knew to pursue sobriety and a life that reflected her values. The transition also ushered in an unstable living situation, and the fear that asking for help might mean her son would be taken away from her.
It has been a journey for Lisa. But today, the Open Cupboard and Today’s Harvest make the healthy choice an easier, more accessible choice. They’re critical partners on her recovery and stability journey. It’s the type of partnership she and people in crisis and transition don’t often find.
There’s so much more to Lisa’s story. Read it here.
Susan works part-time supporting people with special needs. She spends her weekends working another part-time job, most recently driving for Lyft. Susan is 68 years old.
“I had to stop working at 62 because of a bad accident that was not my fault, so I had to start withdrawing social security early. I can’t live on my social security and pension. I’ll have to work ‘til I’m about dead.”
There’s so much more to Susan’s story. Read it here.