The Becker Food Shelf Board met last week and announced its intention to commence with a capital campaign to raise enough funds to build a permanent home to tend to the nutritional needs of area residents.

While the food shelf has been around for nearly 40 years, over time the needs of the community have changed, as has the usage of the integral service.  The robust demand has created an urgent need for a stand alone building to facilitate the operation.

The Need

Currently, the food shelf operates out of the Furniture Mart building and the board expressed their gratitude to the owners of that business for their generosity and flexibility.  However, a permanent structure will allow the food shelf to operate more efficiently and also expand their offerings.

Director Marilyn Danielson noted that demand grew sharply over the past few months, as hundreds of families were served in the month of December.

“Our current volunteers have been amazing,” Danielson says.  “They are a very dedicated group of people and we count on their support to be able to provide this service to the community.”

One of the constraints of the current space is a lack of storage for dry goods, meaning that volunteers and businesses such as True Value, Bill’s Family Foods, the Sherburne History Center and Grace Lutheran Church are providing space for overflow storage.

In addition, the facility is in dire need of a walk-in cooler space so they could tap into additional donations of meat and produce from the Second Harvest network.

The Plan

Early in 2025, the board reached an agreement with the City of Becker to purchase for one dollar a plot of land behind the current Legion/Becker Township buildings, and “Future Home of the Becker Food Shelf” signs currently adorn that space.

The new facility will have ample storage for both dry goods and perishables, as well as more room to accommodate the ever-increasing residents who utilize the service.

Preliminary drawings for the building indicate a construction price tag approaching $600,000, although the board is hoping to reduce costs through discounted pricing and donated labor and services.  

“We plan to utilize all local contractors for the construction of the building,” says Board President the Rev. David Johnson.  “Country Lumber was generous in helping us with the drawings for the building and other businesses are already stepping up to help.  We are extremely grateful for their commitment.”

The Donors

Fundraising efforts started quietly over the past few months, with the submittal of grants and donation requests.  Almost immediately,  donations starting pouring in, including from the Becker, Clear Lake and Clearwater Lions Clubs, the Malark Foundation, Eddy Foundation, and Sherburne State Bank.  In addition, local Veterans organizations - the Becker American Legion Post 193, Becker Legion Auxiliary and Becker Sons of the American Legion - also made pledged funds to the project.

In total, around $80,000 has been raised already, and the early success has buoyed the efforts of the board to bring the project forward to the community.

Residents will soon receive a mailer that allows for individual donations, as well as a link to the organization’s website (beckerfoodshelf.org), where more information will be available.

Board members and volunteers will also be visiting area businesses to solicit funding for the project.

The Calling

To be able to serve members of the community is a calling for board members Marilyn Danielson, Rev. David Johnson, Pastor Nathan Bucher (Secretary), Rev. Gerry Bass, Father Mike Kellogg, Shane Rademacher, Tanya Danielson and Emma Hoard. As the group shepherds the fundraising process in the coming months, there will be a sign on the site that will allow the community to track progress of the capital campaign.  The “funding thermometer” will be updated as goals are met and the ground can be broken on the endeavor.  It’s a project that is much more than just a building in the mind of Rev. Johnson.

“A big thank you to everyone for talking this up with your neighbors and finding a way to be involved,” Rev. Johnson says.  “So many people are working hard to bring this ministry to fruition and it will be a blessing to so many people now and in the years to come.”