Important Notice

Consider Serving on Our Board of Directors

The Board of Directors will support the work of Waconia United Food Shelf (WUFS) and provide mission-based leadership and strategic governance. While day-to-day operations are led by WUFS Executive Director, the Board-Executive Director relationship is a collaborative partnership and the appropriate involvement of the Board is both critical and expected. Specific Board member responsibilities include:

  • Leadership, governance and oversight
  • Serving as a trusted adviser to the Executive Director in partnership with the Board to develop and implement WUFS strategic plan
  • Reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings
  • Approving the annual budget, audit reports, and relevant business decisions; being informed of and meeting all legal and fiduciary responsibilities
  • Serving on committees or task forces and taking on special assignments as needed
  • Representing WUFS to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization

 

Board terms/participation

WUFS Board members will serve a three-year term. Board meetings will be held monthly. Attendance at board meetings is required.

Service on WUFS Board of Directors is without compensation outside of specific reimbursable expenses.

If you have an interest in this position, please send an email to angiecruzen@waconiafoodshelf.org, and share your interest in why you are interested in WUFS Board membership and the specific skillset that you can bring to the WUFS.

 

New Executive Director

The Waconia United Food Shelf board announces the retirement of long- time Executive Director, Marty Cramer effective September 30, 2020.  Marty has served in various roles at the food shelf since 2003.  She has enjoyed the many opportunities to make an impact on client’s lives over the years and the interactions with the numerous volunteers whom she is come to consider friends. She remains grateful for the business relationships she is built over the years and for the strong support of local businesses and organizations. She looks forward to joining her husband in retirement and hoping to travel more when it is safe again.

She leaves the food shelf in the hands of Angie Cruzen, the new Executive Director effective August 17, 2020. Angie has lived in the Waconia area for 13 years working in the banking industry and volunteering in various ways in the community. She is married and has two sons that attend Southview Elementary and Waconia Middle School. Her family belongs to Freshwater Church in Waconia. She also serves as the Director of Operations for the Waconia Basketball Association and was a general board member of the Waconia United Food Shelf for over two years. She brings years of servant leadership and volunteer experience to the food shelf where she is excited to help continue making a large impression on our clients and community.

 

CHANGING HOURS

Beginning April 4, 2020, the Waconia United Food Shelf will be changing hours of operation. New hours are as follows:

  • Mondays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
  • Thursdays, 4 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
  • Saturdays, 9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

This adjustment allows us to provide our clients with food, needed more now than ever—while keeping everyone safe, including volunteers, clients and staff. As a reminder, all are welcome to the Food Shelf, including new clients. Our current service is pre-packaged food that is offered via a “drive-thru” that includes both perishable and non-perishable items.  If you have any question, please feel free to call us at 952-442-3878.

NUEVAS HORAS

A partir del 4 de abril de 2020, Waconia United Food Shelf cambiará las horas de operación. Las nuevas horas son las siguientes:

  • Los lunes, de 9:00 a.m. a 11:45 a.m.
  • Jueves 4 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.
  • Sábados, 9:00 a.m. a 11:45 a.m.

Este ajuste nos permite proporcionar a nuestros clientes alimentos, que ahora se necesitan más que nunca, mientras se mantiene a todos seguros, incluidos voluntarios, clientes y personal. Como recordatorio, todos son bienvenidos a Food Shelf, incluidos los nuevos clientes. Nuestro servicio actual es comida preenvasada que se ofrece a través de un “drive-thru” que incluye artículos perecederos y no perecederos. Si tiene alguna pregunta, no dude en llamarnos al 952-442-3878.

FOOD SHELF CLIENT UPDATE

Beginning Monday, March 23rd, Waconia United Food Shelf volunteers will pack a seven-day supply of food and essential items into bags. Clients will stay in their vehicles and volunteers will bring the bag(s) of food out to the vehicle. The number of bags received will depend on the family size. For clients with children, additional items will be included to supplement lunch and snacks.

All are welcome to use the services of the Waconia United Food Shelf, including new clients.

Thank you for your patience as we determine new processes to make sure you, our volunteers, staff, and others are safe and we can still ensure that we can still offer services to the community.

UPDATE FOR VOLUNTEERS

We have been so grateful for the outpouring of support and donations. As we determine the best way to distribute food to our clients, we will be looking for new volunteers to support packing food bags, distributing food to clients, and picking up food from our sources. 

If you are willing to help, please complete this survey:

https://forms.gle/6qyJrXnp6J6T9Pqf8

We will reach out to you as needed. 

At this time we do not recommend that anyone with a chronic health condition volunteer. If you are sick please cancel your shift – any volunteer that is showing signs of illness will be asked to leave and return when well.

CURRENT NEEDS, September 2020

An update for those wanting to donate to the Food Shelf in response to the COVID 19 Virus

We are providing more food to the community than ever before. We always accept monetary donations and continue to accept food donations.  Please refrain from donating expired foods.  We have fresh produce and perishable food needs, too. Please call us at 442-3878 if you would like to learn more about donating these items. Here is a list of items we are in need of that this time:

  • Hearty Soups
  • Saltine Crackers
  • Apples
  • Oranges
  • Spaghetti Sauce
  • Cereal
  • Breakfast cereal bars
  • Hamburger Helper
  • Boxed flavored rice (Rice a Roni)
  • Oatmeal
  • Pancake mix
  • Hand soap
  • Deodorant
  • Shampoo
  • Tampons

COVID-19 MESSAGE

View on Google Doc

A Message to the Waconia Community

The Waconia United Food Shelf is monitoring the current COVID-19 situation closely and taking necessary precautions to help make sure that food and product remains safe and that our distributions and volunteer activities can continue.

We are committed to the safety of our staff, volunteers and clients. We are closely monitoring announcements from the CDC, Minnesota Department of Health, and Second Harvest Heartland  to ensure that we are following their recommended guidelines. In addition, the Food Shelf is taking the following proactive and voluntary steps to help reduce contact and/or spread of COVID-19:

  • Making hand sanitizers available to staff, volunteers, and clients
  • Increasing our sanitizing and cleaning schedule, wiping down handles, doorknobs, surfaces, and shopping carts, keyboards, toilets, light switches, etc.
  • Social distancing accommodations in place to allow volunteers to perform their duties with reasonable distance.  This may include limiting the number of clients in the Food Shelf at any one time.
  • Increasing the visibility and importance of hand washing in the restrooms and throughout the facility
  • Advising people to avoid touching their eyes, nose, mouth with unwashed hands
  • Advising people to avoid close contact with people who are sick
  • Advising staff and volunteers to stay home if they display signs of illness or come into contact with affected individuals

Below, we have provided answers to questions regarding COVID-19 (the Coronavirus). We will continue to update as new information unfolds.

Is the Waconia United Food Shelf still open and continuing its daily operations?

At this time, yes.  The Food Shelf is still open and continuing our operations as normal, which includes Mobile Delivery program for select clients. Below are our hours.

  • Monday, Friday, Saturday: 9:00am–11:45am
  • Tuesday, Thursday: 4:00pm–6:45pm

Clients may need to be prepared to wait outside, as the volunteers and staff will be implementing social distancing accommodations to reduce contact. 

Is the Food Shelf out of food?

No. We have not run out of food. We have items on hand and extra orders/food are coming in this week to prepare the extra volume of food for those in need. We intend to have food available during the entire shift.

Is the Food Shelf accepting donations?

Yes. We are accepting food donations, and encourage dropping off items during open hours in a designated location outside. If you do want to donate items, we need crucial supplies such as boxed cereal, canned goods, rice, pasta and diapers. Due to school closures, we are going to be preparing school lunch packages and are in need of kid-friendly foods/items such as macaroni and cheese, and peanut butter and jelly. 

When people turn to us for help, we turn to you. $1 can help provide 5 meals. The impact of this is going to be felt by so many of our neighbors – especially our seniors, children, and low-income families. Click HERE to make a secure online monetary donation to help support our emergency response and readiness.

I am not a current client of the Food Shelf.  Are you accepting new clients?

The Food Shelf is always accepting new clients. Application Forms are available to enroll at the Food Shelf during our open hours. 

We will continue to keep our community updated through our Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/waconiafoodshelf) and website (https://www.waconiafoodshelf.org/) should any developments or changes occur in our operations or those of our partners.



Closed Christmas Eve and Christmas Day

We are closed on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day—Tuesday December 24th and Wednesday the 25th. The Foodshelf will reopen on Thursday, the 26th.

Closed Thanksgiving November 28-29, 2109

We will be closed on Thanksgiving, Thursday and Friday, the 28th and 29th of November and open again on Saturday, November 30th.

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