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Submitted by Jolayne Mohs, Director of Outreach at Trinity Lutheran Church in Owatonna.

(Owatonna) –  One of the many food ministries Trinity Lutheran Church provides to the Owatonna community is called the Husky Pantry. The Husky Pantry is a food pantry that works closely with our local schools and the food shelf–Channel One in Rochester. Families are identified and referred to our program by school social workers. The partnership with Channel One allows our dollars to stretch further than they usually would at a local grocery store. We have a variety of volunteers–including students–that ensure we are meeting our community's needs by providing healthy food options. Husky Pantry options include fresh produce, meats, dairy, a variety of canned and dry goods, and toiletries.

Husky Pantry serves an average of 40 families per week. As a church, we often have other members of the community arriving in crisis and subsequently being offered and utilizing this ministry.

In 2022, Trinity received a Southeastern Minnesota Synod Food Ministry Grant. We were able to use the funds to purchase fresh produce, meat, and toiletries for our families, as this is an area of increasing costs, and the demand remains high. We are extremely appreciative of the grant as it allowed us to continue to serve our families in need with quality, fresh foods that they may not be able to get elsewhere. 

 

Learn more about the 2023 Synod Food Ministry Grant process here.