The White Bear Area Food Shelf would not be what it is today without Joan Burth.
In a 2011 White Bear Press article, Vice Chairman Kevin Donovan captured her influence perfectly: “When people think of the White Bear Food Shelf, they think of Joan Burth. She has taken a fledgling organization that operated in a trailer to a food shelf that is the envy of many communities.” It’s a statement that still rings true today.
Joan first joined the food shelf in 1995 as a receptionist. Her commitment and leadership quickly became clear, and she became Executive Director just three years later, serving in that role from 1998 through 2011. Over 16 years, Joan helped guide the organization through tremendous growth, including the move to our current home on Whitaker Street—a transition that permanently shaped the food shelf’s ability to serve the community.
At the center of Joan’s work was a deep compassion for neighbors seeking food support. She worked hard to normalize coming to the food shelf and to ease the discomfort many people felt when asking for help. As she told the White Bear Press in 2011, “They are so grateful. They don’t want to be here and they’ll say, ‘I’ll try not to come back.’ I tell them, ‘you come back, that’s what we’re here for.’” That perspective continues to influence how we welcome neighbors today.
Joan also cared deeply about the volunteers who made the food shelf run day after day. She understood that strong relationships—among staff, volunteers, and neighbors—were at the heart of effective service, and she nurtured those connections throughout her time with the organization.
Joan’s legacy lives on in the walls of our building, in the systems she helped put in place, and in the enduring spirit of welcome that continues to guide our work. We are grateful for the many ways she helped shape the White Bear Area Food Shelf and the impact she had on this community.
