Community Pathways fills the food void during COVID-19

Soon after restrictions for the coronavirus COVID-19 were outlined by Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, rumor had it that the Steele County food shelf was closed.
"We are open," says shelf co-directors Nancy Ness and Maureen Schlobohm. "We don't want people going hungry," Ness emphasized.
Community Pathways is the new name for the food shelf, which merged with the Clothesline. The Clothesline is temporally closed to free up staff to distribute food. The merger took place in January.
More than 400 households are being served per month. "We are here at 155 Oakdale St. in Owatonna to provide food and be safe," said Schlobohm.
Director Ness said that Community Pathways has changed its processes on a daily basis and sometimes on an hourly basis.
Curbside delivery is being offered. People pull up in their vehicles and accept food items placed on a table outside.
"People are hunkering in, thus we haven't seen a huge increase in demand for food," said Ness. New families have been added to the Community Pathways delivery list but many of regular customers are vulnerable, older people.
The Community Pathways staff of seven full and part-time workers makes 160 deliveries per month to client doorsteps. "We were doing it twice a month but have changed to just once a month," the co-chairs remarked.
A delivery truck also makes a stop twice a month, every other Friday in Blooming Prairie at the Senior Center.
Volunteers are no longer working at the food shelf. "We asked our volunteers to stay home, to stay safe and to stay healthy," said Ness. Most of the volunteers are elderly, more vulnerable people, Ness explained.
"We are holding our breath and just seeing what will happen in the future," Ness said. "It has been an interesting journey for us," she added.
New hours at Community Pathways are: Mondays and Wednesdays, 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, 9 am. to 3:30 p.m. Saturdays are not being done at this time.
Community Pathways is continuing efforts to ensure that staff is safe and healthy. "We are trying to maintain social distancing and safe practices," commented Schlobohm.
"This is such a strange time with everyone living in an ever-changing world," Ness observes. "Our goal is to keep our folks safe and get them food when they need it; we are waiting for a surge yet to come," Ness says.
Channel One in Rochester is the food bank for Community Pathways. Pre-packaged food boxes come from Channel One.
Community Pathways supplements the food boxes with its stock. "We make special food boxes when requested, because of food allergies," Ness says.
 
Major necessities of food recipients include a fresh supply of milk, eggs and cheese. Canned vegetables, canned fruit, canned beans, rice, cereal and side dishes like hamburger helper are also provided. Other basic needs, like toilet paper, are also met.
Pathways also has a good supply of pork products but is getting low on other meats. "We must make accommodations for different meats," Ness informed.
The public is also welcome to make food donations to Community Pathways, said co-directors Ness and Schlobohm. These food donations are kept separate for three days before they are separated by workers who routinely wash their hands and follow safe practices.
Money donations are also welcome. These donations are handled through the mail or electronically. "They are handled with care and attention," Ness assures.
Because of changing circumstances, masked Community Pathways staff members have not been able to visit with customers. "We have lost that personal touch and will be glad to get back to caring for people the way we want to," said Ness.
"We are committed to staying open and staying safe and healthy," reiterated co-directors Ness and Schlobohm.