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.