Although the number of Minnesotans who struggle to put food on the table remains lower than the national average—14.5 percent of households— local leaders at Woodbury’s Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf (WCC) are fighting to help affected families get back on their feet and, with the recent hire of executive director, Kristin Kinney, provide a more holistic experience.
Kinney, who has a long history of serving low-income families in several organizations, has not only taken the reins, but also added numerous goals to the transition plan. Specifically, she wants to incorporate resource information, food demonstrations, educational opportunities, healthy choice literature and videos, on-site community service partners and a playroom. “I want this place to be a one-stop shop for families, where they can have all of their needs met,” Kinney says. “Families need so much more than just food and security.”
Over the past few months, the WCC developed a transition plan which included giving clients the chance to choose the food they need, versus handing them a bag of pre-determined items. Because personalized shopping takes more time, Kinney expanded the hours to support a stress-free selection process: Mondays from noon-4 p.m., Thursdays from 5-7 p.m. and Fridays from 9 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Kinney hopes that with more volunteers, the WCC will be able to make a bigger impact than ever before. To learn more about volunteering, go to christiancupboard.org.
&
Christian Cupboard 30th Anniversary Gala
Friday, November 15
6 p.m. cocktails; dinner catered by The Lake Elmo Inn
Guardian Angels Church, Oakdale
$75; corporate sponsorships available
