We recently received word that our community food shelf, located on Hamline just west of Prince of Peace, will be closing at the end of the month. Operated by our partners from Keystone Community Services, the food shelf has lost its lease and has been unable to find a suitable alternative in the area. The leadership reached out to stakeholders like Prince of Peace last month to prepare us for this coming change.
According to Keystone’s tracking, the Roseville food shelf has served nearly 2,500 people each month so this closure is going to have a big impact on those in our community who live with food insecurity. Keystone also notes that in the last three months, “participation at all of our food shelf sites including our mobile distribution sites has increased by 10-24%.” These statistics only start to get at how big this very real problem is for our neighbors.
Until another appropriate distribution site can be identified, Keystone is expanding hours at their other sites (Midway area of University and Rice Street) as well us adding mobile distribution sites in the Roseville area. All Roseville residents will be welcomed at the two St. Paul food shelf locations.
What Can We Do?
This is an important question for people to ask, especially us who take God’s command to feed the hungry seriously. One thing we can do is pray for God to open up hearts and minds so that food resources might be made plentiful and accessible for all those who hunger. In addition, we should explore how Prince of Peace can become even more a source of support to our hungry neighbors. Know that we are in conversation with the leadership at Keystone and will keep the congregation updated as to what transpires. Lastly, let’s keep filling up the shopping cart in our building entryway. During August we’re hoping to fill it with beans (canned and dried) as this is an item desperately needed on the shelves.
Read the full announcement from Keystone here.