Last year, the White Bear Area Food Shelf served 78,298 visits. Keeping our shelves stocked to meet that level of need is a complex, year-round effort—and the sheer volume of food required can be hard to wrap your head around. Food for the food shelf comes through four main channels:…
Living on a fixed income often means making tough choices—especially when it comes to food. In White Bear Lake, 51% of households receiving SNAP benefits include a senior citizen, a figure significantly higher than surrounding zip codes. For many older adults, mobility and transportation challenges add another layer of difficulty accessing nutritious…
In a year of continuing rising levels of food insecurity in our community, we stayed focused on what matters most: creating welcoming, uncomplicated ways for people to access food. We are committed to providing a stable and supportive environment for everyone in need. Recent research from Second Harvest Heartland found…
“The students and the coordinators that have participated in the program bring such a fun and eager energy into the food shelf! Their ability to collectively problem-solve how to organize donated food items within our warehouse storage system is impressive and remarkable to be a witness to.” Maddie Wilson, Mobile Market Coordinator
In FY 2025, food rescue totaled 555,292 pounds of food, making up 30% of all food available to neighbors at the White Bear Area Food Shelf.
On May 9, our community came together for the annual National Association of Letter Carriers’ #StampOutHunger Food Drive, the largest one-day food drive in the country, and what an incredible day it was! Each year, residents are invited to simply leave a bag of nonperishable food near their mailbox before mail delivery.…
Thursdays 10:00-12:00 Mid June–September Everyone is Wecome Our Free Produce Markets offer a welcoming, outdoor shopping experience where neighbors can take home fresh fruits and vegetables at no cost. These seasonal markets are open to all and are designed to make accessing healthy food easy and comfortable. Throughout the summer,…
April is Volunteer Appreciation Month, a time to celebrate the neighbors who make the food shelf possible each and every day. In 2025, 688 volunteers shared their time, energy, and care in support of the community. From the first greeting to the final task of the day, volunteers are part…
Photo Published in White Bear Press, 2011 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…
Minnesota is home to two primary food banks — Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group — and the White Bear Area Food Shelf partners with both. Recently, each organization completed statewide surveys to better understand the experiences of Minnesotans facing food insecurity. Here’s what they learned. Second Harvest Heartland:…
