Warm reception for freezer
Library refrigerator helps combat food insecurity
(L to R) Brown County SHIP Coordinator Tori Hagberg, Brown County Health Educator and Planner Erin Schwab, New Ulm Public Library Director April Ide, HONU leadership and school board member Sarah Leslie, HONU Manager Jen Mauer, President of New Ulm Medical Center Carisa Buegler, NUPS Superintendent Sean Koster, New Ulm Mayor Kathleen Backer, Police Chief Dave Borchert, New Ulm Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Sarah Warmka, FEAT team member Kelly Kunkel, and HONU Coordinator Kaitlin Gawrisch pose for the community fridge ribbon cutting. Photo by Dylan Jackson
The new community fridge, located at the New Ulm Public Library, stocked with fresh produce and meals. Photo by Dylan Jackson
(L to R) Brown County SHIP Coordinator Tori Hagberg, Brown County Health Educator and Planner Erin Schwab, New Ulm Public Library Director April Ide, HONU leadership and school board member Sarah Leslie, HONU Manager Jen Mauer, President of New Ulm Medical Center Carisa Buegler, NUPS Superintendent Sean Koster, New Ulm Mayor Kathleen Backer, Police Chief Dave Borchert, New Ulm Chamber of Commerce CEO/President Sarah Warmka, FEAT team member Kelly Kunkel, and HONU Coordinator Kaitlin Gawrisch pose for the community fridge ribbon cutting. Photo by Dylan Jackson
The new community fridge, located at the New Ulm Public Library, stocked with fresh produce and meals. Photo by Dylan Jackson
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NEW ULM -- Another method for fighting food insecurity has arrived in New Ulm.
The Ribbon cutting for the new community fridge/freezer located at the New Ulm Public Library took place Thursday.
The purpose of the fridge is to provide access to nutritious food with an emphasis on produce.
The fridge was stocked with apples, bananas, kale, carrots, and more. Single and family meals were also stocked, including pans of ham and potatoes with gravy, and ham and veggie soup.
In partnership with Region 9, the fridge will be restocked weekly.
Police Chief and County Commissioner Dave Borchert said that the community fridge has been a long-time project.
"We've been looking at opportunities to address the food insecurity that we are seeing in our community," Borchert said.
He said that Heart of New Ulm's (HONU) directive was significant in making it happen.
"We have a group that meets on a regular basis. It’s collaborative with lots of stakeholderings involved," Borchert said.
The group Borchert mentioned is the Food Environment Action Team (FEAT,) which worked alongside HONU, New Ulm Public Library, SHIP (Statewide Health Improvement Partnership,) and Southern Minnesota Food Recovery.
Superintendent Sean Koster, said that the fridge would benefit local students.
"When students and families have reliable access to healthy food, it makes a difference far beyond the dinner table," Koster said. "Students who have their basic needs met are better able to focus, engage, and soar at New Ulm Public Schools.
HONU Community Health Improvement Coordinator Kaitlin Gawrisch believes the fridge is a good step to assist the community.
"Everyone deserves access to the nutrients they need to live, learn, grow and thrive. We know this Community Fridge will fill a gap in access in our community and bless many people," Gawisch said.
SHIP Coordinator Tori Hagberg said that SHIP, which is led by Brown County Public Health, was proud to be a part of funding the project.
"It's rewarding to see our investment make a meaningful difference right here in our community," Hagberg said.
Gawrisch said that all of the food available in the community fridge is recovered food.
"Minnesota South Central Food Recovery recovers food and that goes to the Wooden Spoon, which is a restaurant in Mankato," Gawrisch said. "They process it and make it last, maybe it's a bunch of apples that would go bad, so they might peel and freeze them.
Contributors value the library location for the community fridge.
"There are no questions asked here. People in need to get food can walk in the back door, grab what they need, and walk out," Gawrisch said. "There are no forms, no questions."
New Ulm Public Library Director April Ide was glad to provide the space.
"New Ulm Public Library provides services that enrich community members’ lives and we welcome everyone," Ide said.
Along with the community fridge, the library provides a range of other health related services.
State Park and recreation center passes are both available for week-long checkouts.
"We also have our library of things which stems from STEM toys to musical instruments," Ide said. "Disc golf and badminton kits, snow shoes, poles, and light therapy lamps, we have a lot of different health resources at the library."