Staff photo by Fritz Busch New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf volunteers from left, Susan Cordes of New Ulm and Luayn Ruch of Sleepy Eye sort food Wednesday. The food shelf at 1305 South Valley is open noon to 2:45 p.m. Monday and Wednesday and 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. on the first Monday of the month.

NEW ULM — Bolstered by volunteers and donations from a number of sources, the New Ulm Area Emergency Food Shelf is weathering increased food demand rather well.

Food shelf volunteers sorted food, keeping front end shelves stocked as clients selected food items and put them in shopping carts Wednesday.

“I have the best bunch of volunteers. They’re all great,” said food shelf executive director Brad Kirk.

While a number of government programs are struggling with mass layoffs and buyouts, Kirk said he hasn’t had to ration food shelf items, as some outlets have done.

“Our client numbers are a little higher than last year. We were steady at 150 to 160 families in January and February which is a bit higher than the same time last year. In the first week of March, we served 21 families, about double the usual number,” he said.

Kirk said he’s not aware of any budget cuts affecting the food shelf. He regularly applies for federal grants. The last grant he received was in 2020 when the food shelf began the mobile food shelf program.

Kirk said he applies for food through the federal government and receives it when it’s available through the Second Harvest Heartland food bank in Minneapolis.

He said a number of New Ulm establishments will be accepting food shelf cash donations on St. Patrick’s Day (Monday, March 17). Churches are using special offerings to collect food shelf donations too.

The local Boy Scout troop will collect food shelf donations Saturday, March 22.

Food shelf volunteers said they enjoy working at the food shelf, nurturing friendships with other volunteers and getting to know clients by face and having good relationships with them.

Kirk said he’s looking for a “food rescue driver” to pickup food at Hy-Vee Foods in New Ulm from 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Mondays and Wednesdays. He invited anyone interested to call him at the food shelf or visit him there.

Hours at the food shelf, 1305 South Valley Street are Monday and Wednesday noon to 2:45 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. to 7:45 p.m. the first Monday of the month. Call 507-354-7668.

Food donations can be dropped off at the food shelf 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday and Wednesday. Cashwise and Hy-Vee Foods have donation drop off boxes in their stores. Local churches also have drop-off sites. All donations are tax deductible at the food shelf, a 501(c3) non-profit organization.

Needy families and individuals can visit the food shelf one day a month. It serves the residents of School District 88 including the cities of New Ulm, Searles, Hanska, Essig, Courtland, and Lafayette.

Registration forms are available at newulm-foodshelf.com.

Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) income eligibility guidelines are now based on 150% of the federal poverty level as of March 7, 2025. Previous guidelines were based on 130% of the federal poverty level.

For more information, visit https://www.fns.usda.gov/csfp/income-guidelines-2025.