Dodge Center church provides produce to Food Shelf

For members of the First Congregational Church of Dodge Center the produce growing in the church’s community garden is an outreach to the entire community.
Church members have been busy tending to the garden all summer with much of the produce making its way to the Semcac Food Shelf in Kasson, said church member Lynette Nash.
The fresh produce is a welcome addition to the canned, boxed and frozen foods that the Food Shelf distributes to Dodge County residents.
The church has had the community garden for at least 12 years, Nash said, and it has just kept getting bigger. So big that this year they planted 2500 onions and 54 tomato plants along with cabbage, squash, broccoli, lettuce, peppers, zucchini and cucumbers. Houston’s in Kasson, Nash added, donated the vegetable plants.
Produce is delivered weekly to the Food Shelf.
For church members it is a way to give back to the community and to see the difference you can make. For the Food Shelf it is a welcome addition to the food they can offer to Dodge County residents especially in a time of increased need.
Nash said that it is important that gardeners are made aware that they can bring their excess produce to the Food Shelf.
“It’s not a big deal to take it over there,” she added.
But it is a big deal for the Food Shelf.
For the past several months the Food Shelf has been distributing more food than ever to meet the need for food assistance during the coronavirus pandemic. Increased demand by community members, coupled with difficulties in obtaining food for distribution, has created shortages at the Food Shelf.
Semcac’s Amber Duncan, manager of the Food Shelf, said the organization is unable to order many popular bulk items from Channel One because that organization is also having trouble getting food for distribution to food shelves. They have also found it difficult to order bulk items from other sources, she said.
Among the items proving difficult to obtain are noodles and all types of pasta and rice, canned vegetables, especially carrots and corn, pasta sauces, beans and canned tuna.
Somewhat ironically, she said, the Food Shelf is well supplied with frozen meat including pork, chicken, beef and fish.
“The freezers are packed full,” she said.
In the past the Food Shelf has often said that while actual donations of food are welcome monetary donations allow them to purchase more food at better prices.
Now, Duncan said, that while monetary donations are still needed, it is also important to donate food items.
Individuals who would like to help, Duncan said, should drop food off at the Food Shelf location, 105 Mantorville Ave. S., Kasson, between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Thursday.