TOWER- Starting in November, Tower residents Hugh and Frannie Wood will be taking over the leadership role at the Tower Area Food Shelf from long-time volunteer Marge McPeak.
McPeak took on a leadership role at the food shelf about 25 years ago, shortly after she and her late husband Rod retired and moved to the area. Longtime resident Theo Sigford, who passed away recently, also was instrumental in getting the food shelf opened at its current location in the basement of the Timberjay building, along with Richard and Kay Hanson, who both are still food shelf volunteers.
Hugh and Frannie moved to Aurora five years ago, and they both volunteered at the food shelf there. Two years ago, they moved to Tower and began volunteering here, and now are ready to take on the organization’s leadership duties.
The job has changed a lot since McPeak started out.
“Everything is on the computer now,” she said, “not just on paper.”
McPeak said she will miss working with the families who use the food shelf.
“A lot of them have become my friends,” she said.
The food shelf receives a monthly order from the Second Harvest Food Bank in Duluth, where they can order food by the case at low or no cost. But recently, McPeak said, Second Harvest has been running low on many staple items the food shelf clients rely on, which means they purchase more items at retail from the local grocery store.
Cash donations to the food shelf are used to purchase food bank and other needed items, as well as providing a monthly voucher for families to use at Zup’s Grocery in Tower, to purchase perishable items like milk, eggs, and fruit.
The Tower Area Food Shelf is open the third Tuesday of each month from 2:30 – 5 p.m. The entrance is on the back side of the Timberjay building (parking available at the rear of the building). The food shelf can also be visited on an emergency basis by calling Hugh or Frannie at 218-721-2368. Families are allowed to access food shelf services one time each month.
Anyone interested in learning more about volunteering at the food shelf can call Hugh Wood at 218-721-2368. Non-perishable donations for the food shelf can be dropped off at the Timberjay office during regular office hours. Monetary donations can be dropped at the Timberjay, or mailed to Tower Food Shelf, PO Box 533, Tower, MN 55790.