It takes a lot of hard work to keep the Wadena Food Bank going.
But things will be a little easier now at their new location after their grand opening and “Stock the Shelves” open house on June 19.
Food Bank board member Michelle Van Den Bossche says that their previous building, which opened in 2016 after a generous donation from Water World Industries, was too small. Thanks to another generous donation from Wadena Drugs and Greg and Yvonne Linnen, the food bank now works out of a larger building free of charge.
This is now easier for volunteers, says Van Den Bossche, because they are now collecting, storing, and distributing hampers from one location.
“It’s really a huge help to the volunteers,” she says.
The need was there for a bigger space, says Van Den Bossche. Since opening in 2016, 227 families have registered with the food bank and have used it at least once.
While the food bank is there for families in crisis, some never get out their crisis, she says.
The need can also been seen in the large area that the Wadena’s location serves, with their range going from Wadena to halfway to the nearest food bank in every direction. This means their area goes halfway to Humboldt, Wynyard, Canora, and Melfort., says Van Den Bossche.
While the need is large, support from Wadena and surrounding communities, like Quill Lake and Foam Lake, is also large. Many local businesses, organizations, and individuals work on drives to collect donations for the food bank.
The Wadena Food Bank is open every second and fourth Thursday of the month from 6 p.m. until 8 p.m. at their new building located 114 1st St. NE.
