Andrea Kish-Bailey, Executive Director for White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf, says, “Over the last several years nonprofits have become more visible in their communities. Local organizations like WBAEFS, Merrick, Solid Ground, Lakeshore Players, and a multitude of others participate at community events – like BEARly Open, Marketfest, Manitou Days and Farmers’ Markets – in an effort to build awareness of needs and connect with civic-minded individuals who can give of their time, talents and resources to further the mission of the organizations.

“As nonprofits continue to play a more active role in community building, citizens begin to better understand the relationship between giving and receiving. Volunteers are looking to make an impact in their community. Nonprofits are the vehicle.”

WBAEFS has served the White Bear community since 1977. In 2017, WBAEFS provided 602,205 meals to 3,900 individuals (unduplicated) – an increase of 24 percent over 2016. Of the individuals served, 51 percent were children, and 11 percent were seniors over the age of 65. On any given month, over 600 families visit the food shelf for food and support. To qualify for service, neighbors must live within or have a child enrolled in the White Bear Lake School District 624 and self-identify a need for food. Neighbors initially meet with a resource worker who conducts a brief assessment, provides referral connections to other community resources and assists with additional support as needed.

“We rely on our generous donors and volunteers to fulfill our mission,” says  Kish-Bailey. “Our partners in the business community are equally valuable. Cummins Sales and Service, of White Bear Lake, has been a tremendous partner over the years. Our work with Cummins dates back to 2013, when they played an essential role in transforming the WBAEFS from a pre-packed food distribution model, where volunteers decided what food items each family received, to a Model of Choice where neighbors now shop and select their own groceries.

“In 2013, Cummins donated a walk-in cooler – allowing our food shelf to accept and store milk, dairy, meat and other expensive items that are necessary for a nutritious diet. This increased the amount of food each family could receive and the number of families we could serve by over 50 percent. During a monthly shopping visit, WBAEFS neighbors have access to their choice of milk, eggs, meat, pasta, rice, fresh and frozen produce and a variety of other dry goods.”

Cummins Sales and Service (formerly Cummins Npower) distributes engine and power generation systems in the U.S. and internationally. The company also provides application and design engineering services; off-highway engines; and on-highway engines for heavy-duty trucking, medium-duty trucking, RV and motorhome, bus and transit, and fire and emergency.

 

Ricardo Patron, President of Central Region Cummins Sales and Services, says, “Cummins is committed to improving communities where its employees live and work across the globe. Cummins supports community partners in strategic priority areas – education, equality of opportunity and environment. The Cummins Foundation is involved in funding limited projects where employees are deeply engaged and committed, such as at the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf. Our company’s Every Employee Every Community (EEEC) program allows each employee to use at least four work hours to contribute to local projects and partners.”

In 2016, WBAEFS reached out to Cummins for additional help, and Kish-Bailey says, “What started as a simple call for help for a few volunteers to move shelves and reorganize the warehouse, grew into a Six Sigma project for the company. The Cummins Foundation grant supported the work of Cummins’ employee Katie Roessler, a Six Sigma Black Belt, to update the food shelf warehouse to one that maximizes safety and efficiency. The warehouse is now complete with a first-in/first-out process, a roomy food-sorting station for volunteers, rolling stairs, fans in the market area and more! Additionally, the grant provided new freezers and coolers to triple the food shelf’s capacity to accept and distribute food-rescue product from local grocery stores.

“But it doesn’t stop there! Cummins proudly sponsored the Community Roots Garden which has harvested over 1,500 pounds of fresh veggies for families utilizing the food shelf. The garden sponsorship includes a shed which allows volunteers to tend to the garden on evenings and weekends when the food shelf is closed. Many people have benefitted from Cummins’ support. We are very grateful.”

For more information: whitebearfoodshelf.org and cummins.com.