“ In 2013, Cummins donated a walkin cooler – allowing our food shelf to accept and store milk, dairy, meat and other expensive items that are necessary for a nutritious diet. This increased the amount of food each family could receive and the number of families we could serve by over 50 percent,” says Andrea Kish-Bailey, Executive Director of WBAEFS.
Merrick clients hold positions in Kowalski’ s Markets’ coffee shops, kitchens, aisles and check-out lanes.
“ We rely on our generous donors and volunteers to fulfill our mission,” says Kish-Bailey.“ Our partners in the business community are equally valuable. Cummins Sales and Service, of White Bear Lake, has been a tremendous partner over the years. Our work with Cummins dates back to 2013, when they played an essential role in transforming the WBAEFS from a pre-packed food distribution model, where volunteers decided what food items each family received, to a Model of Choice where neighbors now shop and select their own groceries.”
Cummins Sales and Service( formerly Cummins Npower) distributes engine and power generation systems in the U. S. and internationally. The company also provides application and design engineering services.
Ricardo Patron, President of Central Region Cummins Sales and Services, says,“ Cummins is committed to improving communities where its employees live and work across the globe. Cummins supports community partners in strategic priority areas – education, equality of opportunity and environment. The Cummins Foundation is involved in funding limited projects where employees are deeply engaged and committed, such as at the White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf. Our company’ s Every Employee Every Community( EEEC) program allows each employee to use at least four work hours to contribute to local projects and partners.”
In 2016, WBAEFS reached out to Cummins for additional help, and Kish-
Bailey says,“ What started as a simple call for help for a few volunteers to move shelves and reorganize the warehouse, grew into a Six Sigma project for the company. The Cummins Foundation grant supported the work of Cummins’ employee Katie Roessler, a Six Sigma Black Belt, to update the food shelf warehouse to one that maximizes safety and efficiency. The warehouse is now complete with a first-in / first-out process, a roomy food-sorting station for volunteers, rolling stairs, fans in the market area and more! Additionally, the grant provided new freezers and coolers to triple the food shelf’ s capacity to accept and distribute food-rescue product from local grocery stores.
“ But it doesn’ t stop there! Cummins proudly sponsored the Community Roots Garden which has harvested over 1,500 pounds of fresh veggies for families utilizing the food shelf. The garden sponsorship includes a shed which allows volunteers to tend to the garden on evenings and weekends.”
For more info: whitebearfoodshelf. org and cummins. com.
Merrick, Inc. & Kowalski’ s Markets
John Wayne Barker, Executive Director for Merrick, Inc.
Merrick, in Vadnais Heights and North St. Paul, has been empowering adults with disabilities for over 50 years. Executive Director John Wayne Barker says,“ Merrick provides work and life enrichment activities for nearly 375 adults with disabilities in the northeastern Twin Cities. We partner with local businesses to provide a variety of work options: light assembly or packaging at our building in Vadnais Heights; Merrick client crews onsite at a business partner’ s location – supervised by our staff; and direct-hire placements. A rich variety of life enrichment activities take place at one of our two buildings, and in the community at large.”
For nearly 20 years, Merrick has partnered with Kowalski’ s Markets to provide meaningful work for adults with disabilities. Individual clients are employed directly by Kowalski’ s along with client crews that help personalize the shopper experience in six of Kowalski’ s Twin Cities’ locations.
“ Merrick clients hold positions in the coffee shops, kitchens, aisles and check-out lanes. When shoppers visit Kowalski’ s, they interact regularly with our workers. When people with disabilities are included in typical work and life enrichment activities, our community is stronger. Kowalski’ s is doing its part!” says John Wayne Barker, Merrick’ s Executive Director.
Collaborations continued on page 67
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