|
Semcac Food Shelf expands its office and families it is serving
|
|
|
By Charlie Warner
Argus News Editor
Folks stopping by the Semcac Food Shelf, located 138 East Main in downtown Caledonia are experiencing a pleasant surprise. With Semcac’s Head Start program moving out of the front end of the building and to a section of the Caledonia Area Elementary School, The food shelf has now tripled its floor space.
“We are very pleased with how the remodeling project went,” said Semcac Emergency and Outreach Services Worker Jan Palen, as she surveyed the new digs last week. “With Head Start moving out of this building, we were able to put in a nice employee break area, a larger office and all this food display space,” she added.
The Semcac Food Shelf had been working in very cramped quarters for some time. With the drastic downturn in the economy, the food shelf has been handling a lot more food. Now they have room to display it.
Persons wishing to donate to the food shelf or utilize its services will no longer have to access from the side (west) door anymore, but instead can use the front (north) door.
New paint, carpet, doors and trim have brightened up the facility. And with the additional space, food products won’t have to be stacked in dark shelves in the back of the building, but on brightly lit display cases.
“With the increase in business we have been seeing, this really helps,” said Donell Burns, who has served as a food shelf volunteer for many years. She reported the local food shelf served just under 200 families last year. Currently the food shelf is serving 258 Houston County families, who receive up to 40 pounds of groceries each month per family member.
Local donations have been good, Palen said. People realize how tough the bad economy has been on many families. With job lay-offs, many families that wouldn’t have needed their services in the past are now turning to the food shelf.
As the interview was being conducted, Sarah Holland, manager of the Spring Grove Cinema brought in several large boxes of donated food items. The Spring Grove Cinema had held a food drive in conjunction with Spring Grove’s holiday promotion the previous weekend. Those attending the weekend shows at the movie theater were asked to bring donations for the food shelf.
“This is just another example of how people throughout the area are helping us,” Palen pointed out. “The schools, churches, businesses and different organizations have been so good. They realize there is a need and they are doing what they can to help.”
The Semcac Food Shelf is open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 9 to noon and 1 to 4. Iyla Mulvenna, who was out with a bug the day this reporter stopped by for a tour, serves as the food shelf manager.
Others working in the building are Semcac Weatherization Tech Jesse Klankowski, Semcac Headstart Caseworker Marilyn Nelson, and office assistant Jenny Slabaugh, who works in both the Caledonia and Rushford offices.
You can contact Charlie Warner at
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
|
