Messiah Community Food Shelf: a community-led approach that transforms lives
Volunteer finds community and purpose
When Erin Lemke and her family moved to Lakeville, she desired a place of belonging where she could use her skills to help others. She found Messiah Lutheran Church, a community that partners with 360 Communities to operate a food shelf. The 360 Communities-powered Messiah Community Food Shelf provided the volunteer opportunity that would transform Erin’s sense of community.
Erin found a connection volunteering alongside others at Messiah Lutheran Church and felt aligned with 360 Communities’ mission. Her engagement at the food shelf deepened, and she took on a co-lead role, producing meaningful changes directly impacting local families needing support. The Messiah Community Food Shelf team worked tirelessly to expand from a closet-sized space to a larger, more efficient area now serving over 100 families weekly. This expansion is crucial in meeting a growing demand for nutritious food while ensuring they can provide culturally specific options for shoppers. Located at Messiah Lutheran Church in Lakeville, this food shelf is one of four 360 Communities food shelf sites designated as a “SuperShelf.”
SuperShelf transition and new garden
A SuperShelf prioritizes acquiring and displaying healthy, culturally appropriate food options for shoppers. This model improves health, increases access to fresh (often costlier) food items, and reduces waste. An exciting new initiative at Messiah Community Food Shelf is a vegetable garden that provides the freshest food and addresses the unique dietary needs of our diverse community! This raised-bed garden will provide fresh, culturally-specific produce like basil and cilantro, tomatillos, jalapeños, and other vegetables often difficult to source through traditional food bank partners.
“The garden has been a dream of mine since I started volunteering here,” says Lemke. “It’s wonderful to think about bringing fresh produce directly from our property to our shoppers. This not only enhances the nutritional value of the food we provide but also respects and honors the cultural preferences of our families.”
Community response
Lemke says the community’s response to these changes has been overwhelmingly positive. People appreciate the SuperShelf model, which offers a shopping experience similar to a grocery store, enhancing their independence and dignity. Shoppers appreciate the addition of culturally specific produce, which supports meals that reflect their heritage and preferences. The food shelf is an appointment-based shopping model, where volunteers often work on the same days and shifts. This set-up fosters regular interactions between volunteers and shoppers to build trust and go beyond food security. This consistency plays a crucial role in understanding families’ underlying needs and creates the opportunity to offer additional resources and support. It demonstrates our commitment to people’s holistic well-being.
Collaboration with 360 Communities
The collaboration between Messiah Lutheran Church and 360 Communities is vital to this food shelf’s success. Messiah Lutheran Church provides unwavering support, from financial donations to hands-on volunteering. 360 Communities provides a broader network of critical support, resources, structure, and shared knowledge, enhancing the ability to serve families’ needs. Erin Lemke’s journey as a volunteer is a testament to the transformative power of community service through 360 Communities and its partnerships. The Messiah Community Food Shelf is a beacon of hope that exemplifies 360 Communities’ community-driven approach.
