Elijah's Pantry just got cooler

• The new refrigerator

Elijah’s Pantry volunteers Mary Mickelson, left, and Jennifer Havlick standing next to the new refrigerator purchased with a grant from Louisiana Pacific and donations from the senior class of Lake View Christian Academy.

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Elijah’s Pantry, a food shelf operated out of the Living Waters Fellowship in Two Harbors, recently purchased a commercial refrigerator thanks to a grant from Louisiana Pacific Foundation, a charitable arm of Louisiana Pacific Corporation and $500 from the senior class at Lakeview Christian Academy in Duluth, said Pastor Jim Joseph of Living Waters. The students’ money came from fund raising efforts for their senior class trip.

The LP Foundation grant is part of its Community Relief program and was coordinated by LP employees at the Two Harbors plant, some of whom volunteer at the pantry. They saw the need for the refrigerator first hand.

“The need for services from Elijah’s Pantry grew tremendously in the past few years, but they had to turn down donations of meat, vegetables and dairy products because they had no way to keep them fresh,” LP Plant Manager Steve Twining said.

“This refrigerator has made a big difference for the families who use the service,” Twining said. “We at LP Two Harbors are proud to have played a role in that.”

Last year Elijah’s Pantry served 1,528 people. Most, said Joseph, came from the Two Harbors area, but people have come from as far away as Silver Bay and Brimson.

“We’ll serve anyone who comes in,” he said. “We’ll never let anyone go hungry.” As part of that commitment the pantry is open 10 a.m.-3 p.m. Wednesdays, but in an emergency they’ll open by appointment. If Joseph isn’t available, two other pastors have keys and can serve families or individuals with immediate need.

Joseph said that visits to the pantry have increased about 30 percent and the refrigerator will make a difference in what can be offered to visitors.

“It’s pretty neat to be able to get fresh food,” he said noting that the fresh fruits and vegetables are important to good health and the pantry can now be a part of providing those options.

Donations to the pantry are welcome anytime, but Joseph places particular emphasis on the importance of donations during the month of March. Funds received that month are one of the criteria use by the State of Minnesota to determine how much grant funding it will provide to the pantry.

“I always tell people ‘give in March, it’s the best time of year to give.’” In addition to helping to secure more state grant funding, the pantry is able to stretch financial donations much farther than the average grocery shopper can, since items for the pantry are purchased from Second Harvest Food Bank at far below retail prices.

If you’d like to help Elijah’s Pantry feed hungry neighbors, checks can be sent to the pantry at 501 Seventh Avenue in Two Harbors. Call 218-834-4545 for more information.

Tags: food pantry, two harbors, life, news