- A new 24/7 community food cabinet, stocked by local businesses, is now available in St. Joseph.
- The initiative offers a discreet resource for individuals who may feel uncomfortable visiting a traditional food shelf.
A new 24/7 food shelf, run by the St. Joseph Chamber of Commerce, has launched along County Road 75 in St. Joseph.
The Community Cabinet initiative started this fall as a collaborative effort between the Chamber, the St. Joseph Community Food Shelf, Sisters of the Order of Saint Benedict’s Social Justice Ministries and several local businesses.
The cabinet is meant to serve individuals in the community who may feel uncomfortable visiting the food shelf, St. Joseph Community Food Shelf President Julie Gravgaard said.
“I hope it helps those people that have some sort of a stigma towards the food shelf; I hope it gives them some outlet to come and get some food here in St Joe,” she said.
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The Community Cabinet, located outside the Food Shelf at 18 Birch St. E., is stocked with on-the-go meals, toiletries and cooking ingredients. The mix of items is meant to help a range of “transient individuals,” Gravgaard said, from those living in their cars to people who have homes where they can cook food.
Each month, a different St. Joseph business stocks the Community Cabinet. So far, Bad Habit Brewing Company has already helped out, and other businesses including White Peony Boutique, Obbink Distilling and Flour & Flower have signed up to stock the cabinet later in the year.
St. Joseph salon Uptown Styles is stocking the cabinet this month and is collecting donations of nonperishable food items and toiletries to help with the effort, the shop said in a Facebook post.
The Community Cabinet is not meant for the Food Shelf’s regular visitors, Gravgaard said, but rather people passing through the area or residents who may otherwise not seek help.
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Though some may be embarrassed by needing food assistance, Gravgaard said she hopes the new initiative can be less intimidating and that those who visit the cabinet or Food Shelf feel supported.
“Seeking assistance should never be an embarrassment,” she said. “Those struggling with food insecurity should remember they’re not alone, and there’s no shame in seeking help.”
The St. Joseph Community Food Shelf is open 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday at 18 Birch St, E., with after-hours appointments available.
Teagan King covers business and development for the St. Cloud Times. She can be reached at [email protected].
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