287 Staff support the PRISM Food Shelf Program
District 287 employees have been supporting PRISM Food Shelf since the beginning of the school year. PRISM staff have picked up large numbers of donated items from our District Service Center on three occasions.
The hundreds of families and individuals who use the food shelf program are guided through the process by a Food Shelf Caseworker. They receive needed items along with other support to become stable and self sufficient.
In addition to traditional food shelf operations, PRISM has developed a "youth food shelf" held each Monday night from 5:00-7:00 p.m. During the weekly program, anyone under 21 can obtain food shelf assistance with no questions asked.
PRISM Food Shelf Needs Update
Jessica Kelly, PRISM Volunteer and Resource Manager, told us this week that the food shelf can always use additional non-perishable food items. Currently, PRISM is in need of the following items:
- Canned vegetables;
- Bars of Soap, Shampoo, and toothpaste;
- Personal hygiene products;
- Detergent; and
- Diapers.
A PRISM Client Story
Jacqueline's daughter has multiple disabilities. As a newly-divorced, single mom, she went back to school so she could get a better job to support herself and her child. Between school and her daughter's endless doctors' appointments, physical therapy and school meetings, there was little time left for consistent employment. When her daughter's doctor recommended a special diet, she realized there was no way she could afford it. She felt funny about calling PRISM for something as basic as food. But PRISM was able to supplement her basic foods so she could afford to get her daughter's special dietary needs met. And she says she got so much more than just food. "I got an open ear and a place that cared."
District 287 Students Volunteer PRISM
Donations to the eight PRISM programs come in many forms: money, food, clothing, cars, and more. But we can't forget the crucial donations of volunteer time. In 2006, volunteers gave PRISM an estimated 22,000 hours of their time and energy to PRISM. This amounts to 10 full-time staff and saves PRISM more than $365,000 in labor costs!
For the past nine years, District 287 Phase North students have been volunteering at PRISM. Currently, three students volunteer at PRISM with the support of job coaches and Bob Laumann, Work Experience Coordinator. "PRISM is wonderful to work with and they have been very supportive of our students and the work experience program," says Laumann.
On Monday, Wednesday and Friday our students weigh groceries, sort food and stock shelves. On Tuesday and Thursday our students volunteer in the PRISM "Clothes Closet". Each week our students volunteer seven to ten hours each.
Charles Mayer, Dustin Peterson, and Josh Buell Volunteering at PRISM
PRISM: "People Responding In Social Ministry"
PRISM is a community-funded social service agency that provides families in need with food, financial assistance, transportation and other services in times of financial hardships. They serve clients in Plymouth, Golden Valley, Robbinsdale, New Hope and Crystal. Within their eight programs, PRISM serves approximately 4,000 families per month which translates into 13,000 individuals, about half of which are children.
A box for food and non-perishable donations is located in the mailroom at the District 287 Service Center and items from staff at off sites can be sent through the inter-campus mail.
If you would like to volunteer, please go to www.prismmpls.org/volunteers.html for a volunteer application.
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