Marketplace Delivery fills BP needs – and stomachs

Amanda Novak moved to Blooming Prairie less than a year ago, but has already fallen in love with it.
The busy mother of three said she appreciates the quality school system and the sense of community she feels – and last week, there was one more reason.
Novak was one of a dozen people who signed up for the Marketplace Delivery service from Community Pathways of Steele County, which will be stopping in Blooming Prairie the fourth Thursday of every month.
“We’re branching out,” said Troy Bice, coordinator of Marketplace Delivery.
In the past, the service has focused its delivery on people who need food and are unable to access it because of a disability, short-term illness or injury, lack of transportation or inability to afford gas.
In Blooming Prairie, that’s meant a monthly delivery for senior citizens who live independently.
“We did some dredging,” Bice said, “and found that the poverty level in school-age kids” was significant. So they partnered with the BP school district, which sent an email to every family, offering the service and providing the registration information.
Deciding to expand the outreach was deliberate and timely, said Maurya Torgerson, a social work intern with Community Pathways.
They’ve taken note of the increase in the price of everything – including food, “and we’ve also noticed an uptick in the number of applicants,” she said. It’s been, in a word, “massive.”
The grocery boost for a working mom like Novak was a relief.
“There are resources out there,” she said, “but someone will always need the help.”
The 12 families who signed up for last week’s delivery – which includes three pounds of meat, bread, a dozen eggs, milk and miscellaneous produce for every two people – included one family with 10 people.
The amount of food is adjusted per family size, and is designed to offset the recipient’s food supply for a couple of weeks.
Pre-registration is required to ensure needs are filled, Bice said, “but we wouldn’t turn anyone away. We’ll bring some extra, just in case.”
He and Koby Wright, who was volunteering last week in Blooming Prairie, have both experienced that need.
“I grew up in poverty,” Wright said. “I was the oldest of five kids, and I know what that’s like.”
He and Bice were both in over-the-road trucking; Bice ended up using the services of Community Pathways after an injury forced him out of work.
“I’ve been through the game,” he said. “I’m one of the prodigies of this program, because I came back and wanted to do more.”
Wright, too, came to the organization as part of a back-to-work program.
“I received some benefit, but I’m just one story,” he said. “It’s an incredible program. Everybody’s always smiling; no one hates what they’re doing. This is definitely going to factor into my future life, no matter what I do.”
That’s the goal, Bice said: Making people smile.
The trailer that comes to Blooming Prairie every month will be set up for its users to “shop;” the rear door drops down as a ramp to accommodate for mobility issues.
The intent is to provide a sense of normalcy and dignity to its shoppers, Torgerson said.
“We’re getting rid of the stigma,” Bice said, while taking care of people.
“We’ll see how well it goes over” in Blooming Prairie, he said. “It could work into having a permanent food shelf; we don’t know yet. It’s all based on need.”
 
Next BP Marketplace Delivery
When: 10 a.m. to noon, Thursday, April 28
Where: First Lutheran Church parking lot
Pre-registration:  Required by April 21
More details: Visit www.communitypathwayssc.org and click on the Blooming Prairie Pre-Registration tab.
Other: Donations may also be made at this location.