Food drive profile: Donations prevent retired senior from ‘starving’
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Your donations to The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive in March help Minnesotans like Diane – a local senior who is barely scraping by.
If not for your donations, Diane, 78, would probably lose the house she’s lived in for 55 years. Or go hungry. Or both.
Like so many other seniors, Diane lives on a fixed income, with a budget that becomes tighter by the day as essential everyday expenses continue to rise.
“There are so many of us seniors who aren’t making it,” said Diane, who spent years working at Control Data – a former Minnesota-based computer company – and in childcare before she retired.
She lives on just $968 per month, most of which goes toward paying real estate taxes, utilities, car insurance, and other bills. She can only afford to eat twice per day and fill her car’s gas tank once every two months.
“I don’t drive anywhere unless I have to – just doctor appointments and the food shelf,” Diane said.
The food shelf she visits is The Salvation Army’s food pantry in Burnsville. She comes once per month for enough groceries to get her through.
“It’s the best food shelf I’ve ever been to,” Diane said. “I like it because I can shop for the food I want – other food shelves don’t let you pick. Here, it’s like going to the grocery store.”
During each visit, she fills a shopping cart full of fresh vegetables, frozen meats, canned goods, and pasta, along with staples like milk, bread and eggs. She is an efficient shopper, selecting foods that she can use to create meals that last several days – like casseroles.
“With casseroles, you can take almost any meat and mix it with rice or noodles for a meal that’s warm, filling and nutritious,” she said.
Diane is grateful to The Salvation Army and our donors for providing her with food to eat.
“Thank you to all the people who donate,” she said. “Without you, many of us would be starving. Because of you, I’m still in my house and I’m doing great.”
How to Help
Please support The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive by donating nonperishables, hosting a food drive, giving a cash donation, volunteering, or rounding up at Cub grocery stores. Your generosity will fill the stomachs of Minnesotans hungry for help.
Donate food in the Twin Cities by dropping off nonperishables such as pasta, peanut butter, and canned goods Feb. 27–March 27 at your local Salvation Army or at these partner locations:
Donate food in greater Minnesota by dropping off nonperishable foods Feb. 27–March 27 at your local Salvation Army Worship and Service Center.
Donate online: Help us feed local families by giving online. Your donation will be used to purchase food for Salvation Army food pantries nearest to your billing ZIP code. Just $25 feeds a hungry family of three for a week.
Round up at Cub: Shop at local Cub grocery stores in March and round up your purchase to support our food drive. Any amount you give will have a big impact when combined with other Cub shoppers who choose to contribute.
Host a food drive: Collect nonperishable foods from friends, neighbors, coworkers, church members, and others. Drop off the food you collect at your local Salvation Army or our partner locations. Download a Food Drive toolkit.
Volunteer: Do you have time to spare? Support our food drive by helping us unload delivery vehicles, weigh food, stock shelves, and more. Sign up to volunteer.
To learn more about The Salvation Army's Annual Food Drive, please visit Meals4MN.org.