Bemidji church donates 850 pounds of beef to community food shelf

Members of New Salem Lutheran Church in the Turtle River area delivered more than 850 pounds of ground beef to the Bemidji Community Food Shelf on Jan. 2, a donation funded by youth offerings collected throughout 2025 and supplemented by adult contributions. The church purchased two cows at roughly $2,000 each and covered processing, turning a year of small gifts into a sizable, in-kind contribution for families in Beltrami County.

The donation arrived as a practical boost for the food shelf’s supply of protein, a category that is often in short supply at emergency food providers. By simple measure, 850 pounds of ground beef represents roughly 3,400 four-ounce servings, offering hundreds of family meals that would otherwise require additional grocery spending. The church said adults raised extra funds so the youth’s savings could be used specifically for purchasing and processing the animals, emphasizing intergenerational cooperation in community support.

New Salem Lutheran has an ongoing relationship with the Bemidji Community Food Shelf, staffing monthly partnership shifts to help with distribution and operations. That regular volunteer presence, paired with this targeted food donation, highlights both day-to-day support and occasional larger projects that expand what the food shelf can offer. The donation also served as a hands-on teaching moment for the congregation’s children and youth, translating yearlong giving into a tangible benefit for neighbors.

For local families who rely on the food shelf, the added protein can stretch weekly boxes and reduce grocery budget pressure. For the church and its youth, the project illustrates how modest, steady contributions add up: offerings collected across a year funded a purchase usually beyond a single small donor’s means. The effort also reinforces the role local congregations play in Beltrami County’s safety net, combining money, volunteer time, and logistics to meet immediate needs.

The broader implication for the community is straightforward. Small, sustained giving and volunteer commitments can finance larger, targeted interventions that fill gaps in food assistance. If you want to pitch in, consider volunteering during New Salem’s monthly shift or donating to local food programs to help ensure the shelf maintains a steady supply of nutritious items. Our two cents? A little planning and steady generosity go a long way toward keeping families fed and teaching the next generation why community care matters.