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The June 17 ribbon-cutting and open house for the new Rock County Food Shelf culminated a six-month campaign to raise $225,000 to remodel the 2,000-square-foot building.
Today is the first time the new location will be used for food distribution.
Board chairman Pastor Roger Sparks commended those at the ribbon-cutting for the effort to open a larger facility.
“It’s amazing how many people in this community like to help others,” he said.
The city of Luverne purchased the building on West Maple Street and agreed to lease it to the Rock County Food Shelf for $1 a year. City leaders then challenged the group late last year to raise $225,000 to complete improvements.
The improvements included new doors and windows, shelving, a bathroom, commercial refrigerators and freezers, insulated walls and a new heating, ventilation and air-conditioning unit.
“It is a matter of things falling into place at the same time,” Sparks said.
On Monday the Service Over Self youth participants moved the remaining items from the food shelf’s previous location in the United Methodist Church basement to the new location.
Mary Gehrke, the food shelf director, reflected on the opening that will serve more Rock County families.
“This is a pandemic blessing,” she said.
Due to no contact requirements brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, distribution for the past year consisted of volunteers packing boxes for the individuals and families and placing the boxes into vehicles. She said some received too much food and some not enough.
The new location allows recipients to choose their own items while allowing for social distancing and other pandemic requirements to keep volunteers and others safe.
The one-level building eliminates stairs, making the service available to more people.
The Luverne BackPack Program will also use the new food shelf location for their work in preparing the food packs for distribution to school-aged children.