Willmar, Minn. – An Anonymous Fund of the Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) donates $10,000 to the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf (hereafter known as Food Shelf), a nonprofit hunger relief organization serving residents in Kandiyohi County. “This generous donation was made by longtime supporters of the WACF who wished to remain anonymous,” said Sara Carlson, Executive Director of the WACF. “They recognized the increased and ongoing need in the Willmar Lakes Area community and hope this acts as a catalyst for others to provide financial support to the Food Shelf, especially during the March Food Share campaign. Their gift is inspirational for all of us to support local food shelves and food pantries right now.”
Having a fund at WACF means donors can get connected easily to needs in the community that match their interests and passions. Since May 2009, the WACF has invested $170,610.20 between Foundation grants and fundholder donations to our local Food Shelf. Carlson said, “Making sure we have a strong Food Shelf to feed our community when they need help is important. It is a measure of a community how well we take care of our neighbors. Via our donors, WACF is pleased to help provide the resources to ensure no one goes hungry.”
March is March Food Share Month
For 41 years, Minnesota FoodShare, a brand of Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC), has worked to address food insecurity and poverty throughout Minnesota. Through the annual March Campaign, they provide resources to food shelves and food distribution programs across the state. The more money and food collected by our local Food Shelf from February 27 through April 9, 2023, the more they receive from GMCC. Alana Ziehl, Executive Director of the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf said, “The last several months have challenged many community members because of reduced work hours and health issues, leaving many families in need of food assistance for the first time.”
Radio for Relief
The biggest fundraising event for the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf happens on Friday, March 24 from 7–10 am. Online donations, mailing checks ahead of the event and setting up delivery times to bring food are encouraged. For every $1 donated, the Food Shelf can purchase $10 worth of food through their buying partner – Second Harvest Heartland.
Individual gifts to support the Kandiyohi County Food Shelf can be made via PayPal at: https://bit.ly/3xXlBzw
About Kandiyohi County Food Shelf
Kandiyohi County Food Shelf began in 1982 when representatives from local churches and social service agencies started a temporary emergency food program. They envisioned the program to last about five years. Throughout the past 40 years, generous donors and volunteers have built it into an organization capable of distributing over 990,000 pounds of food annually. Its headquarters is located at 624 Pacific Ave SW in Willmar. Families that reside in Kandiyohi County are allowed to receive one order of food per month. They also have emergency boxes available if someone needs food more than once a month.
About WACF
The Willmar Area Community Foundation (WACF) attracts and administers charitable funds for the benefit of the local Willmar area. Since 1998, WACF has grown to over $23.5 million in assets and awarded $12.4 million in grants to nonprofits. The WACF is governed by a local board of directors and is a partner of CommunityGiving, which is a collaborative of community foundations united under a single framework to create efficiencies that maximize the impact of our donors. Collectively, CommunityGiving administers over 1,000 funds totaling nearly $195 million. Learn more at CommunityGiving.org/Willmar.
