Community smashes food shelf fundraising goal
Shelves in the backroom at Community Pathways are fuller these days, after a record-setting fundraising and food collection drive in March. Director Dom Korbel said the nonprofit is purchasing a greater variety of canned goods, which have been cut short to purchase more expensive staples. Staff photo by Joni Hubred
In hindsight, Community Pathways director Dom Korbel might have guessed this year’s Minnesota FoodShare Month drive would go well.
The Hometown Sampler, an annual kickoff concert, blew past a fundraising goal set by the bands who perform. Still, Korbel said, he thought the goal he set for the month was “super aggressive.”
“I set the original goal at $170,000, and that was probably $40,000 more than we had done in the past,” he said. This year’s goal for food donations was 70,000 pounds.
After totaling up donations, Korbel said in a video announcement, “not only did we set records, we smashed records.”
Individuals, businesses, schools, churches, and community groups–around 400 donors in all–raised $278,000 in cash and 85,000 pounds of food.
Why the massive outpouring this year?
“I think we have worked really hard over the last year to tell our story, telling anyone and everyone who would listen, and it paid off,” Korbel said. “This is proof people heard us.”
He also credits a larger discussion around the state about families losing pandemic SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits as helping to push the conversation around hunger.
FoodShare Month, launched more than 40 years ago, focuses attention on donations to local food shelves during a time of year when they typically make a significant drop. The record drive accounts for a significant portion of Community Pathways’ annual budget.
“This is an incredible community that believes in what we do and never ceases to amaze me,” Korbel said. “Owatonna and Steele County is a very special community.”
He also credited the Hometown Sampler bands, which are all local. Bad Tangerines, The Gogs, Turn the Page, and Mile 5 started their weekend food shelf benefit in 1992. Admission to the concerts is a donation or cash or food.
“This all started with a record-setting Hometown Sampler concert,” Korbel said. “These musicians are willing to continue to be part of that event every year. That sets the stage and really sets the tone.”