Keeping Families in Their Homes for the Holidays and Beyond
Together, we can help families have a safe and secure place to call home—for the holidays and beyond.
A home means something different for everyone—it might be a cozy apartment, a spacious house, or even a temporary space with friends. But at its core, home is about safety, comfort, and a sense of belonging. Unfortunately, many of our neighbors facing housing and food insecurity don’t have that assurance. With short-term emergency support, PROP helps families avoid eviction. Through wraparound services like mental health care and employment counseling, PROP helps them to build a foundation for long-term stability.
At PROP, we’re Keeping Families in Their Homes For the Holidays and Beyond.
One generous couple in our community embodies the spirit of compassion and care. They have generously pledged to match all gifts given through December 31st, 2024 up to $25,000. Likewise, Scheels-Eden Prairie has matched that gift with an additional $25,00 matching gift.
That means every dollar donated between now and midnight on December 31 will be doubled—up to $50,000!
This is your chance to make twice the impact and help even more families stay in their homes during this critical time.
Donate online HERE or mail a check to PROP Food, 14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.
Every contribution helps strengthen our community by keeping our neighbors stable and supported. Thank you for sharing your generosity this holiday season.
“Happy Hour For Hunger” November 14th, 6-8 PM
Thursday, Nov 14th, 6-8 PM is Happy Hour for Hunger at Eden Prairie Liquor
You’re invited to a Happy Hour for Hunger on November 14th at Eden Prairie Liquor, 16508 W. 78th Street (Near Kowalski’s). You will have the opportunity to taste over 50 wines and purchase your favorites at exclusive discounted prices. Reserve a ticket with a $10 donation, or bring 5 non-perishable food items to donate at the event.
All during the month of November, you can also “round up for PROP” or make a cash donation at any of the three Eden Prairie Liquor Stores when you purchase your favorite beverages and supplies.
PROP Give to the Max Day – November 21st
Give to the Max Day is November 21st!
“Give to the Max” is Minnesota’s annual giving holiday to celebrate and fund non-profits in our state. Your donation to PROP Food Shelf can make a big difference for people in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen experiencing food, housing or financial insecurity. All gifts will be matched up to $25,000!
PROP’s 2024 Holiday Gift Card Program
With PROP’s Holiday Gift Card Program, it’s easy to “Share the Joy” with families experiencing food or financial insecurity in our community this holiday season. Just purchase a gift card online and have it sent to PROP Food Shelf at www.propfood.org, or drop off a card at PROP 14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.
- $40 Target Gift Card (Goal: 500 cards)
- $25 “Fuel Only” Gift Card from a local gas station
- (Goal: 200 cards)
- $25 Gift Card from a local grocery store
- (Goal: 200 cards)
Or donate any amount online at www.propfood.org/donate and select the Holiday Gift Card appeal option.
The deadline for donating gift cards to PROP is Friday, November 15th, 2024.Thank you so much for Sharing the Joy!
2024 PROP-TOBERFEST!
Join us for “PROP-TOBERFEST – a “Day of Family Fun” on September 22, 2024, 12:00-4:00 PM at Fat Pants Brewing Company, Eden Prairie. A $10 wrist band purchased at the event enters you into a drawing for a door prize and gives access to outdoor kids’ and adult PROP-TOBERFEST festivities.
Enjoy live music by local bands the Jolly Pops and Wondercure and grab some festive food and beverages at the food tent. Come inside the Fat Pants “Beer Garden” to purchase a “PROP-TOBERFEST” beer and play indoor games for a chance to win special prizes.
Kick off the fall season with this great event for a good cause! All proceeds go to fund PROP Food Shelf.
See you there!
2024 Immanuel Lutheran Church- BINGO Benefit for PROP
2024 Immanuel Lutheran Church, Eden Prairie
Bingo Benefit for PROP
Saturday, September 7, 3:00-7:00pm
Come and join the fun under the BIG TENT at Immanuel Lutheran Church’s Bingo Benefit for PROP. There will be prizes, food trucks, root beer floats with Culver’s custard, special musical guests, and Bingo callers including Immanuel’s youth and staff members.
Invite your friends and neighbors to join in the fun! Join us for an hour, or play for the whole four hours.
Suggested donation for Bingo cards:
- CASH ONLY
- 20 games for $5, or
- 4 games for $1
- Prizes (gift cards) are awarded for every winning bingo.
Bring donation items for PROP and place them in the PROP van. Products most needed by PROP include the following:
- Full size personal care items: shampoo, conditioner, body wash, deodorant, toothpaste and toothbrushes, razors
- Paper products: toilet paper, paper towels, women’s hygiene pads and tampons.
- Food: Canned chicken, canned tuna, protein beans, pasta and pasta sauce, peanut butter and jelly, boxed cereal, pancake mix and syrup, boxed snacks
See you there!!
PROP Business Partners Step Up to the Plate
PROP Business Partners Step up to the Plate
Community is at the heart of what PROP Food does. PROP wouldn’t be what it is today without neighbors helping their neighbors, and some of those neighbors who help PROP are local business partners. PROP has several partnerships with local businesses that have greatly supported PROP’s mission of combating food insecurity.
A long-standing partnership of PROP’s is with the Zinpro Corporation, having partnered with them in 2012. Zinpro is a global agriculture company dedicated to the health and wellbeing of animals and people. The partnership began with their “Blue Jeans Benefit,” in which employees of Zinpro could purchase passes to wear blue jeans to work and all the proceeds went to PROP. “At Zinpro, one of our core values is Serving Generously, and our longstanding partnership with PROP is one example of how we try to live our values,” Global Corporate Communications Leader Lea Curtes-Swenson said.
PROP also has a partnership with The Bernard Group, a visual merchandising and marketing company. The partnership began in 2018, beginning with hosting a peanut butter drive for the food shelf. Since then, The Bernard Group has grown to be PROP’s largest corporate donor. “The Bernard Group supports multiple nonprofit organizations that focus on meeting the needs of those who are most vulnerable in our community, particularly children, teens and women,” Director of Corporate Social Responsibility Liesl Beck explained.
SCHEELS, a local retailer, is another one of PROP’s strong partnerships, providing the nonprofit with consistent support since 2020 and emphasizing the importance of community involvement. “As an employee-owned company we value the communities that we are in and make it a priority to be an active member of each community through outreach and volunteerism,” Marketing Leader Lauren Andrist said. “We couldn’t do what we do without the support of our community so we want to make sure we are doing our part.”
Optum’s partnership with PROP began more recently in 2023, but has already made a huge impact. Optum is a healthcare company that provides various direct services. The partnership began when Optum started hosting food packing events at their campus in Eden Prairie. “At Optum, we believe everyone deserves the opportunity to live their healthiest life,” Senior Data Analyst Laura Erchul shared. “We are committed to advancing health equity, which includes food security.”
These unique partnerships all support PROP in different ways, but they all make a huge difference in the fight against food insecurity.
Zinpro’s involvement has grown to involve many efforts, specifically PROP’s Summer Food For Kids and Empty Bowls programs through their corporate giving programs. Furthermore, through the efforts of Zinpro’s foundation, Anderson Foundation, the company has sponsored several food and personal care item drives alongside holiday giving. All these methods of giving have made an immediate impact at PROP.
The Bernard Group’s staple is their Charity Golf Open, in which PROP is one of three beneficiaries to receive 100% of all the funds raised. The Bernard Group has hosted a charity fashion show in the past as well, illustrating the creative ways in which local businesses support PROP.
While providing support year-round, SCHEELS primarily supports two campaigns of PROP’s: Keeping Families in their Homes for the Holidays and Summer Food For Kids. SCHEELS did a donation match of $25,000 for the most recent Keeping Families campaign, then donated to cover one month of food for Summer Food for Kids. SCHEELS is representative of how major support furthers PROP’s mission.
Optum’s recent partnership has had an amazing start. In 2023, the company packed 400 personal care kits which included shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothbrushes, and shaving supplies. In 2024, they expanded, packing 400 personal care kits and 1,250 snack kits, alongside hosting a peanut butter donation drive that resulted in 135 jars of peanut butter collected. Optum also brought in 200 burrito bowl kits for a spring 2024 project. This partnership will only continue to grow over time.
These partnerships demonstrate how important it is for neighbors to help their neighbors. Each of these companies have supported PROP and its mission in huge ways, creating a greater sense of community while doing so.
“We care about making a positive impact in the world — both through our products and services as well as the actions we take in caring for our communities. By supporting PROP in our hometown, we hope to inspire others to do the same,” Lea said, sharing a sentiment that all of PROP’s business partners uphold.
Faith Communities Help PROP Combat Food Insecurity
As PROP Food Shelf has expanded over its 50-year history, it has cemented itself as a pillar of the Eden Prairie and Chanhassen communities. Through community support, PROP has been able to continue its mission of combating food insecurity. Its partnerships with several local churches are a major part of that support.
Eden Prairie United Methodist Church (EPUMC) has held a longstanding relationship with PROP. “One of the main focuses of our congregation is food insecurity. It is part of EPUMC’s identity,” explained volunteer Elizabeth Littlefield. EPUMC’s support takes on many roles, but their largest effort is their PROP GARDEN. The project starts off every spring with soil prep and seed planting, then a dedicated group from the church maintains the garden. “Weekly deliveries are made as soon as the first harvest and continue until the end of the season,” Elizabeth said. “It is a labor of love and very successful.” The garden yields 2,000 pounds of fresh produce yearly for PROP.
Eden Prairie Assembly of God (EPAG) heard of PROP through a board member who volunteered. After learning more about the organization, EPAG initiated a partnership. “Our connection with PROP has afforded us the opportunity to refer people in need,” Pastor Chris Cleveland shared.
Prairie Lutheran Church is another longtime partner of PROP. The church emphasizes that taking care of physical needs — like food insecurity — is just as important as spiritual ones. “We want to share the love of Jesus by providing food for those who might not be able to afford their own,” expressed Pastor Ashley Updegraff. “We value our partnership with PROP and do several drives for them and with them each year.”
What all of these churches have in common is their involvement with PROP’s Summer Food For Kids (SFFK) program. The SFFK program helps fill the gaps our children and families face during the summer months when students do not have access to the free meals provided by their schools. Families with children up to 18 years old receive additional food and snack options during their normal food visit to PROP. Through partnership with over 20 local businesses, faith communities, and organizations, PROP aims to serve more than 1,000 kids during summer 2024.
EPUMC, EPAG, and Prairie Lutheran Church all support PROP’s Summer Food For Kids Program in different ways. Halfway through the summer, the impact they have made so far is remarkable. EPUMC chooses one item every summer to create 900 meals for kids. This year, they are aiming for 900 boxes of pasta, and they’ve already created a large dent in that goal. “This takes a great team of motivators, communication, visuals who tap into the generous, caring and supportive members of EPUMC,” Elizabeth said. Alongside financial contributions, EPAG has been able to donate more than 3,700 boxes of mac and cheese to SFFK. “We want to ensure that kids have the food they need,” Chris explained. EPAG’s commitment is not slowing down anytime soon.
Prairie Lutheran Church is collecting peanut butter jars this summer and getting kids of their church involved too. “Our VBS kids — only 6 of them! — collected 36 jars. The congregation will join them in this effort, but what a great start,” Ashley expressed. “The kids were so eager to help other kids have access to food.” Prairie Lutheran Church is aiming to collect 300 jars total by the end of the summer.
These churches walk in their faith by supporting their communities’ needs, putting others above themselves. “Food insecurity can happen to anyone, and it’s important that we know that,” Ashley shared. “I hope to continue growing our generosity, and I hope we get more person-to-person opportunities for service. I think giving money or items is one thing, but we are called to walk alongside people, too.”
PROP Volunteers Create a Community of Compassion
PROP Volunteers Create a Community of Compassion
When PROP was founded more than 50 years ago, it was on the principle of neighbors helping neighbors. It’s a community caring for itself. As PROP has grown and expanded its reach, the importance of its volunteers has grown alongside it. These volunteers dedicate themselves to their community every week, and have strengthened it while doing so.
Judy Bissonett first discovered PROP when was looking for a part time activity, so she replied to their advertisement in the local Eden Prairie newspaper. Now, she has been volunteering for 15 years and loves every minute. “I continue to work at PROP because it’s fun. It’s busy. It’s always interesting. It feels right,” Judy said.
Leslie Stiles moved from Bloomington to Eden Prairie, and learned about PROP when she was volunteering at VEAP. “I decided that volunteering would be a great way to get involved with my new community and meet new people while doing something important to help that community,” Leslie said. She started volunteering at PROP in March of this year, and has no plans to stop anytime soon.
Joanne Finnegan has been volunteering for a year and a half, and discovered PROP through her church, Pax Christi Catholic Church, and its connection to the organization. Beyond that, her family has lived in Eden Prairie for over 30 years. “It’s a good thing to do something for someone else,” Joanne said. I’m retired, so it’s a good time to think of someone other than myself.”
John Paumen also became aware of PROP through the same church. “I was a member of the Justice Grant Board there and PROP was an applicant for a grant. I was assigned to visit PROP with a list of questions from the board,” John said. Additionally, his family has been living in Eden Prairie for 50 years. He ended up joining the volunteer effort at PROP when a neighbor of his recruited him, and John wanted to support the PROP mission. “It seemed like a good fit for me,” John said. He has been volunteering for six years now.
James Ashley landed on the PROP volunteer team after COVID-19 restrictions were lifted, and has been volunteering for almost three years. “My volunteer pursuits were driven by an interest in growing food and distributing it to those in need. I grew up farming in southern Illinois helping my grandfather and uncle on their farms. It seemed fitting to me to return to my roots in a way that would be helpful to others,” James said. “Additionally, when our second child was born in 1983 with severe mental and physical disabilities, I was thrust into a new world where individuals are marginalized by society because they look different, act differently and otherwise do not fit the norm. I spent 36 years advocating for my daughter and helped her live the best life possible. When she died in 2020, distributing food to those in need seemed to be a good way to continue helping those who are underprivileged in some way or another.”
These stories represent the many ways volunteers have found their path to PROP. Yet, all of them have similar reasons for continuing their commitment: how PROP brings their community together. Within PROP, volunteers form new relationships with each other, strengthening connections inside and outside of PROP’s doors. “The people at PROP are the reason I continue to work there. The staff, volunteers and clients are like family,” Judy said.
But the main reason these volunteers return is because they understand the increasing importance of their work — and they enjoy supporting their community in this way. “You start to realize that there’s a lot of people that need this help. It’s not because they’ve been careless… it’s about maintaining people’s dignity as they make that first step to get help,” Joanne said.
“I enjoy the camaraderie with the other volunteers and staff and some of the clients,” John said. “There is great satisfaction knowing that we are helping others get through rough times in their lives.”
The consistency of PROP’s volunteer base is what allows the organization to make a change in its community, and PROP will continue to grow in the future. These volunteers have their own hopes for PROP’s growth. “Since the need continues to rise I hope PROP Food can obtain a larger space… Continuing to volunteer is dependent on health and ability, but I am happy just helping out as I can to distribute food to those in need,” James said.
“The need for the help is clearly growing, so my biggest hope is that PROP will be able to find additional space so that it is right-sized for the community,” Leslie said. “My hope is also that clients always feel welcomed and respected when they come to PROP, something that I’ve seen that PROP volunteers are very good at.”
PROP shares in the hopes of these volunteers, and is incredibly thankful for the ways in which its volunteers have shaped their community into one of compassion and selflessness. “PROP has gone through many changes. Always going bigger and better. Always finding ways to reach out to others. I know PROP will continue to do this and I hope to be a part of it,” Judy said. “I can’t change the world, but I can change a life.”
PROP Couples Volunteer, Foster Community Together
Couples who volunteer together, foster community together
At PROP Food, volunteers work together as neighbors helping their neighbors. But not all volunteers come alone — a number of couples share the PROP experience with each other, bonding by making a difference in their community.
Judy Kammer started off volunteering on her own, but eventually asked her husband, Mark Voorhees, to volunteer with her. Judy was a former Board Chair at PROP, but after receiving a diagnosis of cancer, she chose to no longer serve on the board. As soon as she was able, she transitioned to volunteer work, and Mark joined her endeavor. Now, Judy has been volunteering for over 13 years, and Mark for over 10. From first-hand experience, Judy and Mark understand the importance of helping others in their community. “Frankly, it feels good to help others. We’re very grateful to live the lives we have,” Judy said. “As a teenager, my mother and I were forced to leave our house and move to a one-bedroom apartment. We had to use food stamps and wait in welfare lines for some essentials.”
Dennis and Jane McCormick already had volunteer experience under their belts when they joined the PROP team — they both had volunteered at VEAP in Bloomington prior to retiring in Eden Prairie. “I looked into the local food shelf and discovered PROP,” Dennis said. “I wanted to continue to volunteer at a nonprofit and this seemed like a good fit.” Dennis has been volunteering at PROP for eight years, and Jane for three.
Paul and Mary Anne Neilson also started volunteering for PROP once they’d retired. “After retiring from Hennepin County Library… I was looking for an activity to enhance my free time,” Paul said. “I made my commitment to volunteer at PROP because I wanted to help others maintain stability by providing food for their families.” Paul has been volunteering for eight years, and Mary Anne joined one year after him. She had supported PROP’s Properly Poised fundraising event, then decided she wanted to continue helping out in any way she could.
All of these couples had different reasons and paths that led them to PROP. However, they all share similar reasons for returning: the community they’ve formed. “We have amazing volunteers who dedicate themselves to doing whatever needs to be done,” Mark said. “Building friendships while working with these volunteers is a blessing.”
In fact, sometimes the couples choose to not work together for that very reason. “We intentionally did not work on the same days. It lets each of us have our own unique experience and meet different people,” Dennis said. “But it is special that we have this experience together.”
The PROP experience extends beyond these couples and the friendships they’ve formed — it’s about the people they’re helping. “We both enjoy the opportunity to be uniquely involved with clients. It isn’t like sending money to a charity, which is fine, but this is face to face, person to person and feels like you are really doing something to help a family in need,” Dennis and Jane said.
The other couples share the same sentiment. “I feel so much satisfaction from making a clients’ day with food appointments, and knowing everyday that we have somehow impacted someone’s lives by making one thing easier,” Mary Anne said.
At the end of the day, these couples understand the full impact of PROP’s work, and that is why they want to work together to support it. “When I help a family with food and as I assist them to their cars, it is so wonderful to see their joy at having food for their table,” Jane said. “Some people are laughing and smiling, knowing that tonight they will have a good meal. They are so thankful and I have received hugs before they drive away. That is the best of volunteering, it gets no better than that.”