Announcing the 10th Annual Pack the Porches Food Drive

February 28, 2020

Benefiting Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf and in Partnership with the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

Did you know that more than 3 million visits are made per year to Minnesota food shelves, and that 45 percent of Minnesotans on the SNAP program (“food stamps”) are children?

This March, as part of the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign, Catholic Charities will hold its 10th annual Pack the Porches food drive, benefitting Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf.

On Friday, March 20, from 7 am to 1 pm, Catholic Charites Food Shelf will accept donations of nonperishable food items and funds at three drop-off locations: Pioneer Place on Fifth, 22 5th Ave S, Saint Cloud; HealthPartners, 2251 Connecticut Ave S, Sartell; and St. Cloud Hyundai, 900 2nd St S, Waite Park.

March is typically a challenging month for Minnesota food shelves, and as summer approaches and school lunches are no longer available for the 45 percent of SNAP participants who are children, donations become even more important.

Join Catholic Charities to end Minnesota hunger and increase awareness of food insecurity within the St. Cloud area. Coborn’s will match up to 10,000 pounds of food donations, and donors on the day of Pack the Porches will receive a free cup of coffee with each food or cash donation at their drop-off location. Monetary donations are also accepted at all three locations and at ccstcloud.org.

Many businesses and schools across the St. Cloud area are also holding a Pack the Porches food drive in March, leading up to March 20, when they’ll be delivering their collected food items and funds to one of the drop-off locations. For more information on becoming a participating partner, contact Eric Vollen, marketing and public relations manager, Catholic Charities, at 320-650-1641 or eric.vollen@ccstcloud.org.

Can’t make it to Pack the Porches? The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign continues through April 12. Bring nonperishable items to Catholic Charities Food Shelf, 157 Roosevelt Rd, St. Cloud, and donate funds in person or online. Visit ccstcloud.org/minnesota-foodshareto learn more.

About Minnesota FoodShare

Minnesota FoodShare is an interfaith organization aiming to fight food insecurity and raise awareness of it among Minnesota communities. The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign is the largest annual grassroots food and fund drive in the state, and helps to stock nearly 300 food shelves statewide. During the 2019 March Campaign, more than 8 million dollars and over 5.1 million pounds of food shelf items were raised by Minnesota food shelves and Minnesota FoodShare. To date, Minnesota FoodShare has distributed over 17.8 million dollars to March Campaign participating food shelves via the Minnesota FoodShare FoodFund. 100 percent of donations received by Minnesota FoodShare during the March Campaign go into the FoodFund and are distributed to March Campaign participating food shelves.

About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud

Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud is a nonprofit organization that works to build communities, promote family life and enhance human dignity by providing quality services to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths and beliefs.

Our Recent News

Family Volunteers Bring Hope to Our Community

By Brittany Hoversten • June 16, 2026
At Catholic Charities, we are blessed to witness moments that reveal the true spirit of community. During a recent visit to our St. Cloud Senior Dining program, our team saw one of those moments firsthand. Grandpa Ray and his grandson, Noah, were preparing to deliver meals—a routine that has become a treasured family tradition. Ray often brings all three of his grandsons, turning service into something that strengthens their bond while uplifting others. Our Senior Dining Coordinator, Kim, shared that Ray and his grandkids have become a bright spot for many of the neighbors we serve. For those receiving meals, it’s not just about nutrition. It’s the warmth of a familiar smile, the energy of young people at the door, and the reminder that they are seen and cared for. This simple act of delivering meals shows the power of serving together—building community, connection, and hope one doorstep at a time. We depend on volunteers like Ray—and like you—to bring compassion to our neighbors. If you feel called to serve, explore our volunteer opportunities, including meal delivery and family volunteering. Your kindness could be the moment someone looks forward to each day. Make an impact and volunteer with us!

Celebrating Mental Health Awareness Month: Spotlight on Jennifer Lieser Eschmann, MSW, LGSW

By Brittany Hoversten • May 26, 2026
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By Brittany Hoversten • April 28, 2026
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