Food delivery Food shelves in both Motley and Pillager receive a delivery of food from Second Harvest Food Bank (located in the Twin Cites area) once a month. Pictured above, making a delivery to the Motley Area Food Shelf, is Richard Soberski, a driver for Second Harvest. During the annual Food Share Drive in March, the money raised allows food shelves to order twice the amount of food for the same price. (Staples World photo by Dawn Timbs) Food shelves in both Motley and Pillager report that the annual Food Share Drive this past March went very well; and donations will be accepted through April 10.

“I am continually amazed at how much comes in from a community of our size,” said Sharon Stone, one of the directors at the Motley Area Food Shelf.

“So far, we have over 17,000 in both dollars and pounds and there are still some donations that haven’t been counted yet... it’s been a great year,” Sharon said.

In 2009, approximately 18,000 (dollars and pounds) was collected for the MAFS; and Sharon believes that this year’s total will be about the same.

Although the economy has been tough for folks throughout Central Minnesota, they have been generous to the food shelf. “I think people step up to the plate more because they’ve been there themselves...they know what it’s like,” Sharon commented.

Donations have been steady at the Pillager Area Food Shelf as well, reports food shelf coordinator Alice Korwes. “We’re still collecting, so I don’t have a grand total as of yet.”

Alice said that there is still time to make a donation (food or money); and that there is always a need for paper bags. “We’d rather get paper bags than out-dated food,” she added.

Although food donations are always accepted, cash donations (especially during the Food Share Drive) go a lot further towards stocking the food shelves.

Each March, Minnesota FoodShare directs the largest food drive in the state to restock food shelves. It recruits thousands of congregations, corporations, schools and civic groups to run local food and fund drives to aid in the effort.

Once a month, the food shelves in Motley and Pillager order food supplies from Second Harvest Food Bank in Minneapolis. During Food Share Month (March), the money raised (along with matching funds) allows them to order twice the amount of food for the same price.

The Motley Area Food Shelf is located at 679 Third Ave. S. in Motley. It is open every Thursday from 9 a.m. - noon. For more information about volunteering or making a donation, call 218-352-6344.

The Pillager Area Food Shelf is located at 305 Fir Ave. West, part of the Pillager Family Center. They are open every Thursday from noon - 6 p.m. For more information, call 218-746-4009.