BCFS Hot Summer Happenings!
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Take the Summer Challenge! |
Each year as the weather heats up, so does the need for food. At BCFS, we find that our busiest months are in the summer. At the same time, donations are often very low. The Open Your Heart Summer Challenge provides a partial match that helps us fill our shelves with healthy choices for our families through the summer and into the fall. You don’t need to do anything special to participate – your monetary donation received in July automatically counts toward the grant. Your help is needed, and so important! |
A Grateful Goodbye
It’s been my honor and privilege to lead Bemidji Community Food Shelf for the past seven and a half years. I will retire from BCFS this fall. I am so grateful to everyone who helped to make this such a wonderful experience for me. Our search for a new Director is underway, and I am sure that the new person will bring new and valuable skills and perspectives to the organization. I know that our community of supporters, partners, and volunteers will welcome and support our new ED as they did me. I am excited for the future of the Food Shelf!
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CEP and AmeriCorps on the Farm!
For the second year in a row, we have been blessed with workers from Minnesota CEP and the AmeriCorps Reading and Math Corps Emergency Response. Welcome to Joe and Natasha, and welcome back to Amy and Joanne! We are so glad you are here!
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From left to right:
Joanne and Natasha - CEP,
Amy and Joe - AmeriCorps Reading and Math
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Service Changes
Two upcoming changes will take the Food Shelf back to pre-pandemic operations. Starting in July, we will re-open on Fridays, from 10 am to 3 pm. In August, we plan to return to our normal “SuperShelf” distribution, with customers once again shopping the aisles and choosing their food. We are anxious to be back to our regular hours and distribution and are very happy to see our volunteers and customers!
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You scream, I scream...
Our annual Appreciation Ice Cream Social will be August 15 from 2-4 pm. Bring a friend/spouse/relative and stroll through our beautiful raised bed gardens and Farm, all while enjoying the ice cream sundae of your dreams. This will be the perfect opportunity to visit with our Executive Director Mary before she flies the coop. This event is free of charge and is open to everyone. Please park in the lot between the two big buildings (near the colorful mural) and enter through the chain link gate.
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ShelfSaver
Mobile Food Shelf
ShelfSaver, our new mobile food shelf project, kicked off in May 2021, serving the communities of Kelliher and Blackduck. We are proud to be able to offer this service, and grateful for our partnership with two local churches. Our Blackduck partner is the Blackduck Evangelical Free Church, and in Kelliher, we partner with Our Savior’s Lutheran Church. Thanks to folks from these churches who volunteer their time, we’ve been serving about 30 households from each community. No preregistration is needed – just come to the distribution and our wonderful volunteers will take care of you. If you see our truck on the highway, please (safely) give a thumbs-up of appreciation to our awesome driver, Tim!
ShelfSaver Schedule
Kelliher:
When: Second Tuesday of each month 1 - 3 pm
Where: North Beltrami Community Center, 220 Main St East
Blackduck:
When: Third Tuesday of each month 9 -11 am and 3 - 5 pm
Where: Community Resource Center – for NAPS customers, 17 Main Street
Blackduck Evangelical Free Church – all others, 241 Oscar Ave.
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At BCFS, we have a fascinating and diverse group of volunteers. We have retired teachers, medical personnel, and lawyers, therapists, resort owners, social workers and tradesmen. Their interests range from golfing to quilting, traveling and scuba diving.
If you are interested in being in an encouraging, caring environment where your actions truly make a difference, please contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Debbie Johnson. She can be reached at 218-444-6580, ext 28. We are especially in need of volunteers on Wednesday and Friday afternoons. Come join our volunteer family!
~ Debbie Johnson, BCFS Volunteer Coordinator
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Breakfast on the Farm
Instead of our Harvest Ball fundraiser, this year the Farm Committee is planning a Breakfast on the Farm from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, August 7. Wagon rides and other fun family activities will be included. Please watch our Facebook page and our website for more information as things take shape over the next month.
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Personal care items including:
· Shampoo, soap
· Toothpaste and toothbrushes
· Toilet paper
· Baby and adult diapers
· Feminine hygiene products
Baby food items must be within date and can include formula, and food in pouches and jars. Cleaning products include dish detergent and laundry detergent.
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