One of busiest food shelves right here

Donate or check out Waite House Food Shelf during March Minnesota FoodShare Campaign

by Meghan Muffett

Waite House staff, Jovita (left), assists a community member in the Waite House Food Shelf.

Located right here in the Phillips community, the food shelf at Waite House Community Center is one of the busiest in the Twin Cities, serving nearly 4,000 families on an annual basis. 

It serves as a much needed resource for many single-family households, homeless and highly mobile community members, seniors, immigrants, and others who ”“ for a variety of reasons ”“ are having a tough time making ends meet. 

Yet, in the past four years, the amount of participants have increased 25% while funding changes have been minimal.

This means that more than ever, this March is a critical time for the Waite House food shelf to garner support. During the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign, both monetary and food donations made to Waite House (and all participating food shelves) will be partially matched by the group Minnesota FoodShare. 

Also, did you know that because Waite House is a nonprofit with ”˜bulk purchasing abilities,”' they can purchase even more food to multiply your dollar”'s buying power? AKA, they are able to stretch your $1 into $7, allowing them to purchase even more fresh, healthy, and culturally appropriate food to serve our community members.… Read the rest “One of busiest food shelves right here”

UnBank and UnMission with common wall and uncommon purpose

by HARVEY WINJE

The corner storefront that was Roger Beck Florist until November 2018 at 1100 E. Franklin Ave. is, apparently, now owned by and about to become the UnBank currently at 1009 E. Franklin after initially being restricted from being there because it was too close to a “mission” by city zoning requirements.

Historically, businesses like UnBank and plasma centers being in a retail and residential area are seen as predators of poor people and people living within difficult circumstances. The presence of such businesses is usually a characteristic that reduces signals an area”'s decline and causes a drop in property values.

This property”'s value and advantage to E. Franklin Ave.”'s vast improvements of the last three decades were raised when it was improved from Mr. Arthur”'s 3.2 Bar to the Wendell Phillips Federal Community Credit Union in 1996. Ironically, that credit union had the opposite mission and ethic of helping local people into better navigate financial circumstances and improve their well being rather than taking advantage of them.

The “bottom line” is that UnBank presence at this prominent corner hurts the “bottom line” and lives of its clientele and of other businesses and the avenue generally.

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