The foundation of the Rotary Club of Edina recently awarded a grant of $2,000 to Pillsbury United Communities.Beginning in 1879 with Minneapolis’ first settlement house, Pillsbury United Communities co-creates enduring change toward a just society. Built with and for historically marginalized and underinvested groups across the community, Pillsbury United’s system of programs, neighborhood centers and social enterprises connects more than 55,000 people and their families each year. The organization is guided by a vision of thriving communities where every person has personal, social and economic power.
To address food insecurity in urban core Minneapolis, Pillsbury United has developed a robust food ecosystem that includes two food shelves, two community cafes, food deliveries to homeless youth and urban farms. Pillsbury United used the grant to purchase an electric pallet jack to allow staff to more easily move thousands of pounds of foods from delivery trucks to food shelves, where they distribute more than 500,000 pounds of food every year. They also used the grant money to build wood shelves for fresh produce.
Director of Food Systems Ethan Neal thanked the Rotary Club of Edina for the grant at the group’s Sept. 16 meeting, sharing photos of the new equipment.
Money for grants awarded by the Edina Rotary Foundation is raised at an annual fall fundraiser and gala and donations made throughout the year. For more information about Community Service – Local Funding, contact Ryan Wilson, ryan.wilson@tradition.bank or 952-806-6786.