PILLAGER - For nearly 100 families in the Pillager School District, the food shelf in the Pillager Family Center provides an outlet of hope.
That hope just got stronger after the Pillager food shelf was named a 2008-09 Blue Ribbon Food Shelf honoree by Hunger Solutions Minnesota.
HSM is a statewide partnership of organizations fighting hunger. It started the Blue Ribbon Food Shelf Initiative to provide an evaluative tool that gives recognition to food shelves in the state that are raising the bar in level of service to clients and what it's doing to ensure that the services will continue to be offered in the future.
Katherine Anderson of Motley packed bread into a bag at the Pillager Area Family Resource Center as part of her senior food aid. Along with the bread, Anderson took home commodities such as cheese. Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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According to the HSM Web site, becoming a Blue Ribbon Food Shelf means a community can trust that its donations are being used effectively and efficiently and the persons using the food shelf are treated with respect.
Pillager was among 27 cities honored.
Pillager Family Center director Betty Doss said the food shelf learned a lot through the process to become a Blue Ribbon Food Shelf. Doss said the information from HSM was informative and it gave them more ideas of what they can do to better serve their clients.
"We already were doing several of the things that were asked in the application," Doss said. "They were common sense things. It just reinforced the tasks and offered us more ways to implement things.
"One of the questions was if the food shelf had a respect policy. We do respect the people who work here and our volunteers. But with a policy in place, it reminds us to be more respectful."
Doss said the Pillager nonprofit organization offers more than just food.
"People who come here need food, but they also need a listening ear," Doss said. "We sit down and listen to them. Some don't have anyone else to talk to.
"We (Pillager Family Center) also offer many services for clients who come to pick up food. We provide financial help, MinnesotaCare information and we can make referrals. ... We're like the one-stop shop."
Alice Korwes recently straightened boxes of macaroni and cheese at the Pillager Area Family Resource Center food shelf. The Pillager Food Shelf was recognized as part of the Hunger Solutions Minnesota Blue Ribbon Food Shelf Initiative.Brainerd Dispatch/Steve Kohls
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The center refers people to heat, fuel or housing assistance. They also work with clients to see if they looked at other food options, such as the WIC nutrition program or food stamps.
The Pillager food shelf has been around since 1999 and families can pick up nine meals a week to help supplement their own meals, Doss said.
Doss said they know their clients and know if they have special food needs.
"We have one elderly lady who can't have sugar and she needs energy drinks because she's so weak," Doss said. "We'll look for discounts so we can meet her needs."
Doss said the Blue Ribbon Food Shelf honor is good for two years and can be renewed.
"This was a good process to go through," Doss said. "It helps us be aware of what we can do to help."
JENNIFER STOCKINGER may be reached at jennifer.stockinger@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5851.
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