Volunteers distributed over 320 boxes of food for 80 households at the Clair Nelson Community Center.
Each household was given four boxes, two with proteins, one with produce, and another with dairy products.
“People are just really happy with the quality of food, the amount of food that they’re getting,” said Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank Food Resource Developer Katie Bull.
The USDA provided the food through their Coronavirus Food Assistance Program. It was created to increase the food access for food banks, such as Second Harvest, and other organizations.
“This program has been amazing. We’ve seen such a huge turnout at all the different locations that we’ve been to, Ashland Superior Cook, and it just really shows that there is a need in the community,” Bull said.
Michaela Scharmer, who is an Emergency Response Initiative member for Americorps, picked the sites for Wednesday’s event along the North Shore. They were also held in Grand Portage and Grand Marais.
“Since I got the chance to help coordinate, I thought it would be awesome to actually see the people receiving the food,” Scharmer said.
While the event is rewarding for people receiving the food, volunteers say it is also rewarding for them.
“People are so grateful for it, and it feels amazing, and I know that our volunteers just love being able to be part of this,” said Bull.
“I think it’s super rewarding, and it definitely makes you want to keep helping knowing that you are making a difference,” Scharmer said.
Bull says they served about 200 households in Grand Portage, and about 100 in Grand Marais.
