AWG Cares: Annual Day of Service!

September 27, 2023

Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) Annual Day of Service

Associated Wholesale Grocers (AWG) and their charitable organization, AWG Cares, held their Annual Day of Service on Saturday, September 23. The AWG Upper Midwest Division Team of Volunteers spent time helping at the Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf. The team had a fun, rewarding experience cleaning and stocking the shelves.


Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf provides access to healthy and nutritious food for individuals and families faced with missing meals and primarily serves the cities of St. Cloud, St. Augusta, Sartell, Sauk Rapids and Waite Park. However, our food shelf services are available to anyone who needs them regardless of where they live.


In 2022, Catholic Charities Food Shelf distributed 1,737,320 pounds of food to 11,443 individuals across 3,937 households in central Minnesota and beyond.


In August 2023, Catholic Charities Food Shelf distributed 184,109 pounds of food to 4,872 individuals and anticipates an ever-increasing need throughout 2023.


Thank you to Catholic Charities team members Eric and Nikki who also spent some of their Saturday with the AWG volunteers!


AWG Cares is an employee-managed, company-supported and community-focused non-profit charitable organization. Its purpose is to help AWG and subsidiary employees support the charities they care about and to give back to the communities where they work and live. AWG Cares focuses on three main areas: disaster relief, medical research, and hunger/homelessness.


AWG Cares is more than just a charitable giving fund. The organization sponsors dozens of community service projects to help give back to communities. During AWG Cares Annual Day of Service, employees and their families are invited to participate in a variety of community service opportunities. AWG matches employee donations to the organization and regularly donates additional resources to the efforts of AWG Cares.


Since its inception in 2017, AWG Cares has made 213 grants to organizations nominated by AWG and subsidiary employees. AWG Cares has donated more than $559,000 to charitable organizations in the communities where their employees work and live.


Thank you, AWG and AWG Cares, for your continued support of Catholic Charities. Together, we can make a different tomorrow for our community. 

Our Recent News

Rebecca and Daniel's Story

By Brittany Hoversten • July 26, 2025
In 2024, Rebecca and Daniel were facing a difficult reality: their home was in the foreclosure process. With Daniel recently diagnosed with a serious, terminal illness, Rebecca had become the primary financial provider while also caring for her husband and their disabled daughter. What began as a hopeful purchase of a home in 2022 quickly became a financial burden as life’s unexpected challenges took a heavy toll on their family. Overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward, Rebecca and Daniel turned to Catholic Charities’ Financial and Housing Counseling program for help. After meeting with one of our experienced counselors, they gained a clear understanding of the foreclosure process in Minnesota, including available options and timelines. The first step was to assess their hardship and review their home’s affordability. Despite Rebecca’s best efforts to contact the mortgage company, the stress of managing multiple responsibilities made it difficult to complete the required paperwork. Our counselor worked directly with the mortgage company, helping Rebecca and Daniel fill out the necessary forms. As a result, they were offered a partial claim mortgage assistance program that allowed them to bring their mortgage current and stop the foreclosure. “I don’t have to worry about losing our home while dealing with Daniel’s healthcare needs,” Rebecca shared with relief. Our team also helped the family apply for energy assistance and connected them with additional social security resources, further supporting their financial recovery. Catholic Charities’ Financial and Housing Counseling program, available since 1982, has no income limits and provides expert guidance to anyone looking for assistance. As a licensed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provider, we are committed to helping individuals make informed financial decisions and build a secure future. Rebecca’s heartfelt gratitude says it best: “Many thanks to you, Lois, for everything you do for us!! God Bless You!”

Catholic Charities receives grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Stearns Bank

By Jenna Pettit • July 7, 2025
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud receives $10,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Stearns Bank through the Member Impact Fund Grant program supports affordable housing and community development

Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Summer Challenge

By Brittany Hoversten • July 1, 2025
Summer should be a time of fun and freedom — but for many families in Central Minnesota, it’s a time of deep uncertainty. Without school meal programs and with rising grocery prices, far too many of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table. That’s why we’re excited to announce that Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf is once again participating in the Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Summer Challenge — and we need your help! What Is the Summer Challenge? Every July, food shelves across Minnesota take part in the Open Your Heart Summer Challenge — a statewide fundraising effort where donations are matched through grant funding. That means every dollar you give to our food shelf during the month of July helps us qualify for a matching grant of up to $4,000. It’s a powerful way to double your impact and ensure we can continue meeting the growing need in our community. The Need Has Never Been Greater Food insecurity remains heartbreakingly common in our state. According to a 2024 statewide hunger study, 1 in 5 households in Minnesota are food insecure. Here at Catholic Charities, we’ve seen that need firsthand. Our food shelf has seen a dramatic rise in the number of shoppers — including many families who have never needed help before. The cost of food is higher than ever, and families are forced to make tough decisions between buying groceries and paying for rent, gas, or medications. What We’re Doing At Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf, we offer more than just food — we offer choice, dignity, and hope. Our shoppers are able to select the food that fits their family’s dietary, cultural, and health needs. We provide a respectful, welcoming experience and access to nutritious foods, including fresh produce, meat, and dairy. In 2024, we distributed over 2.7 million pounds of food through our food shelf, mobile outreach, and emergency food bag programs — but we can’t do it alone. How You Can Help This July, your support means more than ever. Every donation made to our food shelf during the Summer Challenge will be matched through the Open Your Heart Summer Challenge, stretching your gift further to help feed families in Central Minnesota. ➡️ Donate Today: Click here to give now Thank you for being part of this mission of compassion and community. Want to learn more about our Food Shelf and other food programs? Visit ccstcloud.org/food-services To learn more about the statewide Summer Challenge, visit oyh.org/summer-challenge