New challenge in July to provide matching funds for cash donations

Photo by Chad Koenen
The Henning Food Shelf will be collecting donations throughout the month of July as part of a new “Open Your Heart Summer Challenge.”

The Henning Community Food Shelf is joining other food shelves statewide in the “Open Your Heart Summer Challenge” that will provide matching funds for cash donations made during the month of July.

The July challenge is designed to help local food shelves raise more funds in their communities with the opportunity to receive a proportionally matched grant from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless. The maximum grant award is $4,000, with awards being dependent upon the number of food shelves participating and the total amount each food shelf raises in July. 

“With our March campaign in the spring and generous holiday donations in the fall, the summer months always seem to be a time when donations dwindle,” said Karen Stueve, Henning Food Shelf director. “This special matching grant gives us a great opportunity to give us a summer boost when it’s needed. We are blessed to have this valuable resource for our neighbors with food insecurities as well as many generous donors to help us keep it going.”

Financial donations made to the Henning Food Shelf during July by individuals and businesses count toward the proportional match. While food donations are always welcome, they will not count toward the fund-raising total for this grant.

The Emergency Food Assistance Program, or TEFAP, which provides USDA commodities to food shelves, also recently increased income limits for eligibility to use participating food shelves, which is resulting in more people using them.

Income Eligibility:

Family Size – Annual Income

One- $0 -$  43,740

Two- $43,741-$59,160

Three- $59,161-$74,580

Four- $74,581-$99,000

Five- $99,001-$105,420

Six- $105,421-$120,840

Seven- $120,841-$136,260

Eight- $136,261-$151,680

Each additional family member add $5,140

People are eligible to receive TEFAP commodity food if they live in Minnesota and their household income is 300 percent or less of the federal poverty guidelines as noted in the chart or if they receive or participate in any of these services/programs: MFIP – MN Family Investment Program, Child Care Assistance – General Assistance, SNAP – Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program, NAPS – Nutritional Assistance Program for Seniors, WIC – Women, Infants and Children, Head Start, Section 8, Public Housing, Energy Assistance or Weatherization.

The Henning Food Shelf is a “client-choice” food shelf and is open on Mondays from 3:30-5 p.m. and on Tuesday mornings or other times by prior appointment and does not discriminate except on the basis of need. 

To apply, visit the food shelf during regular hours or call 583-2136 for more information. Follow the Henning Community Food Shelf page on Facebook for updates on the July challenge goal and other announcements.