January 19, 2012

Post by Molly Schroeder

It is hard to believe, but in two weeks the Minneapolis Market will turn two years old. Tonight, on one of the coldest nights in MN this winter, we can see that the Market is a blessing in the lives of our members. Tonight I had the chance to talk with a few of the members

as they waited in line to check out with their groceries and I’m always humbled by their gratitude for the Market. Many of the people will share their stories, their challenges and their lives with you if are willing to ask. I really enjoy learning about how the Market has helped members to stay in their own house, continue to go to school, or help provide healthier food for their families.

Tonight at the Market the shelves were stocked. Organic Soy Milk, yogurt, milk, diapers, laundry detergent, dish detergent, apples, oranges, grapefruit, bakery items and freezers stocked with meat. The stocking team did such an amazing job of organizing the food and creating such an inviting environment for the members.

Two of my rock star volunteers this week were Bennett and Mason. These two boys in fourth grade carried groceries for our members into the below zero cold of MN. Bennett and Mason are new friends and only know each other because of the Market, but these two formed a mean team of grocery carries, stockers and packagers. They are eager for a job and have fun interacting with the members as they help with their groceries.

I’m so grateful for my volunteer team and the commitment that so many volunteers have made to serve at the Market. Thanks for a great night team!

Aisle 3 Volunteer Team

Jose Volunteering at the Minneapolis Market

One of my favorite stories from the Market this month comes from one of our newest volunteers.  Jose, 13, and his family are members of the Minneapolis Market .  One day Jose asked if he could help volunteer and work at the Market.  As of today, Jose has decided to volunteer at the Market EVERY Thursday and Saturday.  Jose is 13 and attends Ramsey school.  He and his family have really benefited from the Market because he said, “sometimes my mom doesn’t have enough money for food, so the market helps our family get food.”  He really enjoys volunteering at the Market because it will help him to get into college so he can become either a lawyer or a chef.  He said that cereal is his favorite item that his mom brings home.  The best part of having Jose at the Market is that he is fluent in both English and Spanish.  Jose is able to help the volunteers and members communicate throughout the shift.  He is an invaluable resource to us and we are thrilled to have him as a part of our team.

Sponsors at the Minneapolis Market pledge $10 a month so that one hungry person can shop for food.  You can visit the Sponsorship tab at minneapolismarket.org and sign up to be a Sponsor.

Happy First Birthday to the Minneapolis Market!  On January 28th, the Minneapolis Market celebrated our first birthday!  It is amazing to look back over the past year and see what amazing things God has done through you and the people at the Market.

On the Birthday of the Market, the volunteer team had a little celebration with donouts, cupcakes and some balloons.  It was fun to hear some of the Members comments on what a blessing this place has been to them over the past year.  One member said that things were really looking up for her as she just secured a second part time job, but the Minneapolis Market has allowed her to keep up with her rent payments while working two jobs.  The face of hunger is really changing and I’m so happy to say that we are really helping people out of the cycle of poverty through the amazing work at the Minneapolis Market.

One of our favorite things about the Minneapolis Market is when people share their story about how the Market is impacting them in their lives.  Every week we hear different stories from you about your experiences.  Stories about a volunteer who meets the delivery truck every week who has befriended a neighbor who she now sponsors to shop at the Market, about a team of volunteers who were fed lunch by one of the Members, about a group of elementary kids who made Valentine’s Bags for the kids, and so many more stories.

We want to hear your stories on how the Market has impacted you!

We would love to hear from you so please click on comment at the top of the post and share a little story about how volunteering or sponsoring a member at the Market has impacted your life.  Quick, click above and just leave a little comment and we’ll get to see a bigger picture of what God is doing in our Community!

Thanks again for being a part of the Minneapolis Market!

Molly Schroeder

Minneapolis Market

***Click on Comment on the top of the post to share your story!

Dear Minneapolis Market Sponsors and Volunteers,

I showed up to the Market last Thursday and immediately texted Dustin alerting him that our CSA Organic Produce was not delivered to the Market.  His response reminded me that the growing season has come to a close and October 14^th was our last shipment of organic produce, oh yes, we are on our way towards winter in Minnesota.

With winter fast approaching it is even more important for the Minneapolis Market to help feed our community.  In doing a little research this week I learned that 10% of Minnesotans don’t know where their next meal is coming from and most have to decide between putting food on the table or paying their mortgage, rent, heating and medical bills.  One in 14 Minnesotans struggle to keep food on their table and 40% of people seeking emergency hunger relief are children under the age of 18.  These statistics remind us that hunger is not only a global problem, but a local problem.   We are so grateful that you have given of your time or money to help us provide food to the Minneapolis community.

Sources
Hunger Free Minnesota Missing Meals Unmet Food Needs Study
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/09/27/hunger-project/
Hunger Free Minnesota Hunger for America/Minnesota Study
http://www.hungerfreemn.org/hunger-in-mn/hunger-facts/hunger-in-america-study
MPRnews New campaign aims to end hunger in Minnesota
http://www.hungerfreemn.org/hunger-in-mn/hunger-facts/missing-meals-study

This month I wanted to feature two of our Minneapolis Market volunteers so you can see the story of the Market through their eyes.  Chandler Murphy has worked at the Market on a Thursday or Saturday shift for the past year and Patricia Kelley has worked on our Wednesday night stocking team for the past year.  I asked them a few questions about their experience at the Minneapolis Market…

Patricia Kelley

How have you been involved at the Minneapolis Market?

I have been a part of the stocking team for the past six months.

Why do you enjoy working at the Minneapolis Market?

I believe the market is a real way we can demonstrate love for people, whether we interact with them directly or behind the scenes. For me, serving at the market stocking shelves is a way I can serve and love others. When I stock I like to be sure every item is placed well and looks good, that it is straight and neat, that all labels are facing outward and that items are grouped together well. It is a matter of treating the items, the space and the people who are served there with respect and honor. It is about giving our best, doing our best and creating something beautiful for others.  If people walk into our market and feel loved by the quality of food we have for them and the care with which items are placed for them then, to me, that means we have brought Jesus to them in a very tangible and practical way. It is truly exciting for me to work in this way because I want nothing more than for people to be flooded with the reality that they are worthy, valuable, beloved children of God, and that Jesus is pursuing them, calling them into him and looking for ways to show them how much he loves them no matter what circumstance they find themselves in. I work at the market because I believe it is sacred space where God reaches out with tenderness and makes his goodness know.

What is something you have learned about yourself by working at the Minneapolis Market?

I have learned that no matter where we find ourselves in our own life’s journey, which for me has been one of sorrow where the temptation to retreat has been strong, that when we come together with people who want to love by serving, we are energized and bonded together by our Creator who really has created us to be in fellowship and community with others.  I have also learned that where the Holy Spirit is there is the sweet, gentle pervasive presence of love.

How have you seen God work through the Minneapolis Market?
I have seen two communities of different backgrounds come together to offer assistance to those in need of food while preserving the dignity of those being served.  Jesus always preserved the dignity of those he served. I believe he calls us to do the same. I have seen God at work as I have served alongside others and gotten to know them. Bringing people together and giving us the opportunity to know others and be known by others is really important because it speaks this language of significance.  When we participate in authentic community we begin to understand, on a core level, that we are significant, that our lives matter, that our stories are important and that sharing an experience like this with someone else is food for our souls.

Chandler Murphy

How have you been involved at the Minneapolis Market?

I have been involved as a volunteer on both the Thursday night shift and more recently on the Saturday morning shift.

Why do you enjoy working at the Minneapolis Market?

I like working at the market because it gives me a chance to learn from people from a different background. I also enjoy interacting and chatting with the members and their families. It has also been fun to work with some of my friends from Upper Room!

What is something you have learned about yourself by working at the Minneapolis Market?

I keep being reminded that we are really all equal – everyone has the same basic needs, one of which is food. The same desire that I have to provide delicious, healthy meals to my family is not too different from those who belong to the Market.

How have you seen God work through the Minneapolis Market?

I know I personally have been humbled by the Market. Watching members shop with dignity and leave with food in their hands – there is something holy happening here. I also feel like God is reminding us that we don’t have all the answers. We are learning from those we serve…in which case it seems that they – the poor and those without resources – are serving us…and this sounds a lot like Jesus.

Again, thanks for your continued support of the Minneapolis Market.  Keep your eye out for a story on the Minneapolis Market on KARE 11 on Saturday, October 30^th at 8:20am!

Molly Schroeder

Member & Sponsor Coordinator

molschroeder@gmail.com

Did you happen to catch the article in the Star Tribune about the Minneapolis Market?

Link: http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/101701158.html

On September 1st, the West Metro Extra section of the Star Tribune featured an article about the Minneapolis Market.  We were thrilled with the chance to share our story with more of the community around us.  A member of the Upper Room Community, Cathryn Kennedy, helped  us to share the Minneapolis Market story to a variety of different organizations and we were excited to be featured in the Star Trib.

Because of this article, I have been able to be in touch with a variety of people in the community who are interested in sponsoring, in need of food, and simply interested in what our community is doing with the Minneapolis Market.  Again, this story continues because of your generous donations and volunteer hours.

Sponsorship Update

As of October, we are in need of new sponsors.  There were about 20 sponsors who committed to sponsor a member for 6 months.  We would like the members to continue to shop at the Minnneapolis Market and so we are looking for sponsors to fill those holes.  If you know of anyone that would like to sponsor someone at the Minneapolis Market you can direct them to this link on our website: http://www.minneapolismarket.org/food-club-sponsorship/

Membership Update

We are currently close to 300 members at the Market and we continue to have potential members visit the Market.  We are excited that the Minneapolis Market is in a community that has a need we can serve.

What is new at the Market?

This month we have two Upper Room community members who committed to picking up and delivering bread from Panera and the Franklin Street Bakery to the market.  We are so thankful for these innovative ideas and actions from the community.

The vegetable boxes from Big River Farms continue to be a great addition to the Market.  The produce at this time of the year is unbelievable and the members are all excited to have the fresh food available at the Market.

Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church continues to serve a dinner to the Market members and other community members on Thursday nights.  The church and volunteers provide a hot meal and a chance to sit down and get to know other members of the Market.  We love the partnerships that the Minneapolis Market encourages.

Volunteer Opportunities

The Minneapolis Market is run on strictly volunteer hours.  Many of you are the force behind the success of this story.  We have volunteers who meet the Second Harvest delivery truck, stocking teams who organize and clean the Market, Shift Managers and volunteers who work on Thursday and Saturday when the Market is open and a team of people who order the food, work with partnerships, keep up with the finances, and coordinate the volunteers.  We are so thankful for the team of people behind the Minneapolis Market.  We couldn’t do it with out the Sponsors and Volunteers.

If you are looking for a way to get involved volunteering we are looking for volunteers specifically on the Stocking Teams!  To sign up to Volunteer visit this link: http://www.minneapolismarket.org/volunteer/

Molly Schroeder

Minneapolis Market Sponsorship Coordinator

molschroeder@gmail.com

Happy Summer!  I hope that everyone gets the chance to relax and be outside in this beautiful Minnesota Summer.  It has been a busy few months at the Minneapolis Market.  I apologize for the tardiness of my update, but summer vacation has gotten the best of me and I haven’t found a lot of time at my computer

The Minneapolis Market has recently partnered with Big River Farms to provide local and organic produce to our members.  Each week we get a delivery of fresh vegetables and herbs and the variety and quality has been tremendous.  Big River Farms has gone out of their way to set up a special delivery just for us.  A big thank you to Melanie and everyone at Big River Farms for their work and support.  They also have a great background and story, you can find more about them at their website, http://www.mnfoodassociation.org/default.aspx.

The members of the market seem to really enjoy having fresh, organic produce along with the other food that is available to them at the Market.  Every week we get to see new produce and share the excitement with the members.  Just this last week I was volunteering and we had the most amazing beets, green beens, lettuce, cauliflower, squash and some things I didn’t even recognize.  It is fun to unpack the boxes from Big River Farms to see what great produce the members will get to choose from each week.  We’d also like to thank Flip Charities for their generous donation to the Minneapolis Market to cover our costs for the fresh produce from Big River Farms.

Another exciting event at the Market this month were our Upper Room Kids visit.  Flood Kids a chance for the kids to experience what it means to put their faith into action as they explore what it means to serve others. The vision of Flood Kids is to “let what we do in here fill the streets out there.” Flood Kids visited the Minneapolis Market in July and learned about how the Market works and how it is helping to serve others in our city.  The kids also helped by cleaning & organizing the market as well as making some gift bags for kids that visited the Market.  Make sure to check out the pictures of the kids who received the bags one Thursday evening.  The smiles on their faces were not hard to capture.

Thanks again for your continued support of the Minneapolis Market.  We are recruiting volunteers for an additonal shift we created at the Market.  If you would like to volunteer to work for the shifts listed below (some are Thursdays and some are Saturdays) please visit http://www.minneapolismarket.org/volunteer/ to sign up for these shifts.

Molly Schroeder
Minneapols Market Sponsorship Coordinator
molschroeder@gmail.com

Thank you for your continued support of time and money to support the Minneapolis Market.  I have some great stories from the Market that I’m excited to share and all of us want to make sure we are saying thank you for making the Minneapolis Market what it has become.

One of the newest developments at the Market is that some volunteers from Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church (the location of the Minneapolis Market) have decided to serve dinner to the Minneapolis Market members on Thursday nights.  Before or after shopping for groceries, members can enjoy a little dinner at the church.  On the Thursday evening shift that I was working, the Redeemer Church volunteers had brought in Hot Dogs, Chile, Chips and Soda for dinner.

Two things happened.  First, members had a chance to sit down and share a little meal together, for free.  Second, members spend a little more time at the Market.  The best part about having the members there for dinner was they they got to know each other better and the volunteers also had a chance to chat and connect with the members.  It was great to see the kids playing together on the Foosball table, little kids running around saying hello to everyone and adults and volunteers getting to know each other on a more individual basis.  The other benefit of this Thursday night dinner is that if new people show up at the Market looking to become members, and we do not have membership available, they can still enjoy dinner for the night at the church.  The volunteers at Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church are trying to organize volunteers from their community to commit to bringing, cooking and serving a meal on Thursday nights at the Market.  The partnership between the two church communities and the Minneapolis Market is a blessing we could have never imagined.

As we were closing up the Minneapolis Market the other day, some volunteers were chatting with a few members having dinner.  A woman came into the market desperate for some toilet paper.  She was not a member at the Market, but a gentleman that was just leaving overheard our conversation and approached this woman.  He told her that he was a member of Redeemer Missionary Baptist Church and he was a member of the Minneapolis Market.  He told her that he still had 40 points on his card and he would like to give her 20 of his points.  This woman was so thankful and they man just simply told her that he was just “sharing the blessings.”  Again, it is amazing to see God and how He is working at the Market.  It is such a blessing to get to witness and experience the generosity that is contagious at the Minneapolis Market.

Interested in getting more involved with the Minneapolis Market?
We have a stocking team that needs volunteers on Wednesday nights for about an hour.
You can also volunteer at the Market or be a sub volunteer at the Market.
Please visit the Minneapolis Market Website to volunteer for any of the above teams:
http://www.minneapolismarket.org/volunteer/

Thanks again for your continued support.

Molly Schroeder
Minneapolis Market Sponsorship Coordinator

molschroeder@gmail.com