Chisago Lakes Masons Generous Support

Hometown Source.com |  County News Review

Members of the Chisago Lakes Masons (Hiram Lodge 287) raised $5,153 for Family Pathways’ Chisago Lakes Area Food Shelf

As part of their annual community fundraiser these funds were matched up to $5,000 by Minnesota Masonic Charities, bringing the total of funds raised to $10,153. Hiram Lodge members Brian Hoffman, Mike Hilber, Matt Carlson, Bruce Hagberg and Jon Meredith presented the donation to Family Pathways’ Food Shelf Coordinator Mandria Clybor.

Hoffman took the lead in organizing the highly successful campaign to help local families and individuals struggling with a scarcity of food.

“We believe that when one individual connects with another, true change can happen,” Hoffman said. “There are neighbors in our community that go without proper food every day due to a variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries and illness. Thanks to a team effort with community partners we are glad to be making a difference.”

The Family Pathways Chisago Lakes Area Food Shelf provides over 184,000 meals annually to over 460 households. The Food4Kids backpack program sends over 70 children home every weekend with nutritious meals to supplement food on the weekends when they do not receive free and reduced meals from school. Staff and volunteers also work to connect clients with other Family Pathways’ services such as domestic abuse advocacy, aging services and supervised visitation programs.

“We believe that when one individual connects with another, true change can happen. There are neighbors in our community that go without proper food every day due to a variety of factors including low wages, job loss, injuries and illness. Thanks to a team effort with community partners we are glad to be making a difference.”

Family Pathways Chisago Lakes Area Food Shelf serves residents in Chisago City, Lindstrom, Center city, Shafer and Taylor Falls. In addition to providing a monthly food shop to those struggling to make ends meet, participants are encouraged to return weekly to choose fresh produce that is available—over 35% of the food sent out is fresh vegetables and fruit. Family Pathways Hunger Relief also provides a Summer Lunch Program, which helps parents of school age children with lunches through the months of June, July, and August.