NONPROFITS & COVID
NORTHEAST METRO ’ S NONPROFITS STEP UP TO THE CHALLENGES PRESENTED BY THE PANDEMIC
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business sector that is very familiar with having to overcome significant challenges , even without a pandemic , are the nonprofits . Between March 2020 , and today , pretty much all of the nonprofits in the Northeast Metro have been affected in some way .
White Bear Area Food Shelf
According to Perry Petersen , Executive Director of the White Bear Area Food Shelf , food insecurity has become a problem for a lot of people . “ Before the pandemic we would serve 1,200 families per month . Now we are serving 1,800 families a month ,” he said .
Not only is the need greater , so is the
amount of work involved in getting food to those who need it the most . Before COVID , the White Bear Area Food Shelf operated very much like a small grocery store where people in need could come in and pick up the items they wanted . However , once the pandemic struck , the model moved to curbside pickup only .
“ We have stayed operating throughout COVID , but we have had to adjust our model to somewhat of a hybrid where people fill out an order and food is prepacked ,” said Petersen , who is hoping to be able to resume in person visits by his organization ’ s clients this summer or fall .
Serving people who come to the food shelf seeking help isn ’ t the only service the White Bear Area Food Shelf has provided during the pandemic . The nonprofit has also partnered with the White Bear Lake School district to help provide what they call Kid Packs to those in need .
22 Northeast Metro Business