PROP News and Events

e-newsletter

Issue 1, March 2023

The Carol Stoebner Memorial Fund

The Carol Stoebner Memorial Fund

 

     Carol Stoebner, Mothers Day, 2023

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carol Stoebner was one of PROP Food Shelf’s most generous and faithful donors. She passed away peacefully in June of 2023. When Carol donated to PROP, she often included handwritten notes expressing her enduring commitment to help neighbors in the community where she lived. Having a special place in her heart for children, Carol provided frequent financial support for Summer Food for Kids and the holiday gift program serving local youth. She did not want anyone in Eden Prairie to be without food or financial support, but most especially the littlest ones in our midst.

 

Carol’s unceasing generosity over many years has impacted countless families and individuals who depend upon PROP Food Shelf when going through an unexpected crisis or difficult time. Many lives have been forever impacted and changed for the better because of her deep and abiding investment in her neighbors in need. Carol Stoebner’s legacy of transformation and hope will live on now and in the future because of her heart for serving others every day of her life.

Donate to The Carol Stoebner Memorial Fund
Three Days Left to Open Your Heart This July

Three Days Left to Open Your Heart This July

Just three days left to have your gift matched at PROP Food Shelf!

CLICK HERE

For a special message from Erik Miles, PROP Food Board Chair

 

CLICK HERE

For a special message from Jenifer Loon, Executive Director of PROP Food and Services

 

July is a special month at PROP. It is one of the busiest months with the highest demand for client services. Because of this increased need, many individuals and organizations in the community chose to contribute to PROP Food and Services during July.

July is a matching month for donations. To amplify these donations, Hunger Solutions has pledged to match a portion of all gifts received by PROP during the month of July thanks to a grant awarded to them by Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless.

What your gift will do:

  • $25       Provides extra fruits and vegetables for a child during a month of summer vacation from school
  • $50       Feeds a family of four for a day
  • $100     Gives a child a scholarship to participate in an enrichment activity like camp or swim lessons
  • $250     Purchases gas cards for 10 clients to attend job interviews
  • $1000   Sponsors an entire day at the Food Shelf so everyone has food
  • $1500   Keeps a family from becoming homeless through eviction and remain stably housed

Increase in demand has prompted an addition of an extra afternoon shift at the Food Mart. Starting late this fall, there will be an afternoon shift on Mondays, especially to support those who work during the day in an effort to achieve their goal of financial stability. The expense for adding another 120 visits a month will increase our food purchase expenses and require additional staff hours and volunteers to serve our neighbors experiencing tough times. With your support, we can make it happen! Could you join our staff or volunteer? Please email coreya@propfood.org

Please Open Your Heart and donate to PROP Food and Services this July and amplify your gift! You may contribute online at propfood.org/donate, or mail a check to PROP Food and Services, 14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344.

Thanks so much for Opening Your Heart to people in need right here in our community!

 

PROP/CareerForce Walk-in Resume Clinic

Wednesday, June 14th 2:00-4:00 PM.

Eden Prairie Library – Green Foxtail Room, 565 Prairie Center Drive, Eden Prairie

Drop in for free advice on your resume from PROP’s Employment Program and CareerForce staff. No appointment needed. All are welcome!

For more information, contact Jessica at 952-767-2977 or jessicak@propfood.org

Most Needed Items

Most Needed Items

Here are the most commonly needed items

Food Items

Canned Chicken

Canned Chili

Canned Stew

Diced Tomatoes

Canned Fruit

Peanut Butter

Oatmeal (instant/rolled)

Healthy Snacks  (granola bars, crackers, pretzels)

Pasta Mix/ Sides

Rice (Brown/Mix)

Tea/ Coffee

Tomato paste/ Tomato Sauce

100% Juice (Apple, Orange, Grape, Grapefruit)

Pancake Mix and Syrup

Canned Tuna

Pasta Sauce

Jelly

Gluten free items

Ethnic food staples

Non-food items

Personal Care:

Bar Soap

Shampoo

Conditioner

Body wash

Tooth brushes

Tooth paste

Men’s and Women’s deodorant

Pull-Ups : Boys and Girls all sizes

Paper products

Baby Wipes

Kleenex

Paper Towels

Toilet Paper

Donations can be dropped off

Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday 9:30 AM – 1:00 PM

Wednesday 3:00 PM – 6:30 PM

Here is our list of items for a food drive PROP Food Shelf Food Drive Items

Thank you for everything. I was very worried when I saw the empty shelves at the grocery stores on the news. I’m so relieved to get food here for my family, especially since I can’t go to work and the children are home now

PROP Client

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 2023

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 2023

Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive 2023

Saturday, May 13th

On Saturday, May 13th, 2023, the National Association of Letter Carriers will hold its 31st Annual “Stamp Out Hunger” drive. Locally, Eden Prairie Letter Carriers will collect much needed food and personal care items donated by residents and transport them to PROP Food Shelf for distribution to people in crisis in Eden Prairie and Chanhassen. PROP Food Shelf is providing the letter carriers with printed bags to distribute to area residents to use for the drive. Residents simply fill the bag with donated items and leave them by their mailbox. The letter carriers will do the rest.

Most needed items identified by PROP include: high protein canned or bagged items, pasta and sauce, canned fruit, pancake mix and syrup, coffee, condiments and full-sized personal care items. Donations may also be made online at propfood.org.

 

Minnesota Food Share 2023

Minnesota Food Share 2023

MNFoodShareMarch

Between February 22 and April 9 2023, all food and financial gifts for PROP Food Shelf are being matched by the Minnesota Council of Churches.

 

Empty Bowls 2023

Empty Bowls 2023

Empty Bowls 2023 is back IN PERSON!

We’re so excited to once again gather in person for PROP’s 11th annual Empty Bowls fundraiser to stamp out hunger in our community! Join your neighbors to enjoy a bowl of soup, a piece of bread and a beverage as a way to remember what we all have in common: “Everybody Eats”

Tuesday Feb., 21st at St. Andrew Lutheran Church

LUNCH 11:00 AM – 1:30 PM

DINNER 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Soup. Handmade Bowls. Silent Auction. Local Entertainment. 100% of proceeds go to PROP Food Shelf to help those in crisis. The generous support of our Event Sponsors and Individual Donors will ensure that “Everybody Eats” during this financially challenging time!

We need your help to make PROP Empty Bowls 2023 a success!

  •  Be one of our valued SPONSORS!
  •  Donate an item for the Silent Auction!
  •  Volunteer to help during the day of the event!

Contact: Holly Link, PROP Marketing and Communications Coordinator hollyl@propfood.org | 952-746-1891

Empty Bowls 2023 Sponsors

Thank you to our 2023 Empty Bowls Sponsors

 

Sandcastle Foundation

Angel donor

Zinpro

CH Robinson

Alerus

St. Andrew

Integrity Wealth

Barr Engineering

Wooddale Church

Immanuel Lutheran Church

EP Noon Rotary

George Wolff VFW

Conscious Branding

Lakewinds

Spire

Western National

Lunds & Byerlys Chan

Modular Management

Trinity Exteriors

Greenheck Corporation

SFM Mutual Insurance

Impact Martial Arts

Prairie School of Dance

Quantitative Advantage

Xcel Energy

MidwestOne Bank

Scheels

Jerry’s Foods

State Farm

Pax Christi

Star Bank

Nicolet Bank

Welu Home Team

Gunnar Electric

Boulevard Wealth Management

EPUMC

CHOICE

Coldwell Banker

PROP Shop

Minuteman Press

Tennant

Old National Bank

EPIC

Featured News

Recent News

Empty Bowls 2022

Empty Bowls 2022

Empty Bowls 2022

Celebrating 10 years of our popular fundraiser

The main aim of this fundraiser has been creating awareness and combating hunger in our community. As the pandemic is on the rise again, we have decided to keep the event virtual this year too but not without including exciting activities for our community.

Virtual tour of PROP with our new executive director, Jenifer Loon
See how the food shelf works behind the scenes!
February 22 proclaimed as Empty Bowls Day

On February 8 Mayor Ron Case, on behalf of the Eden Prairie City Council, issued a Proclamation* declaring February 22, 2022 as Empty Bowls Day.

*Mayoral Proclamations are issued to publicly recognize an event that has great significance in the community.  Proclamations become part of the historical record of the municipality.

Take a complimentary bowl home

We have partnered with a favorite cafe to hand out a complimentary bowl to anyone who stops by on February 22nd. So visit Smith Coffee & Cafe between 8 am – 3 pm on 22nd February to enjoy a warm coffee and more, and take a bowl home.

Our Executive Director Jenifer Loon’s secret Chicken Wild Rice Soup Recipe

Make it, share it on social media with #PROPSoupChallenge hashtag, and stand a chance to win a  fun gift bag from Lakewinds Food Co-op. Drawing will be held on Monday, February 28.

Jenifer’s Chicken and Wild Rice Soup recipe

Servings: 8-10 generous servings; Prep Time: 35 min; Cook time: 25 min; Ready: 60 min

Ingredients
1 cup wild rice (measured before cooking), cooked
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter
1 large onion, finely chopped
3-4 stalks of celery, diced
3-4 carrots, peeled and diced
1⁄2 cup all-purpose flour
4 15 oz. cans of low sodium chicken broth (or use 2 quart-size containers)
1 to 2 tbsp Better than Bouillon Chicken base paste*
1 1/2 tsp dried thyme
2 generous cups of diced, cooked chicken (1⁄2 or more of a cooked rotisserie chicken, or 2 boneless chicken breasts, cooked and diced) Salt and pepper to taste
1⁄4 tsp ground cayenne pepper* (optional)
1⁄2 cup half and half
1⁄4 cup Italian flat leaf parsley, finely chopped

Method

  1. Rinse and simmer 1 cup wild rice with 3 cups of water until rice becomes tender, but not mushy (about 35 min.) Drain rice (if still liquid in the pan) and set rice aside.
  2. In large stock pot over medium-low heat, melt the stick of butter and add the onion. Sauté for 8-10 minutes until onions are very soft and translucent, then add celery and carrots and 1⁄2 tsp salt. Sauté vegetables for about 5 minutes over medium heat, until they begin to soften. Sprinkle in flour, stirring well as you add it to incorporate. Cook this mixture for a minute or two to cook out the raw flour taste. Gradually add the chicken broth, one can at a time, stirring constantly while adding to combine with the flour. Add thyme, 1/2 tsp salt and black pepper to taste. Turn the heat up to medium to medium-high, bringing the soup to a simmer. Add 1 to 2 tbsp ‘Better than Bouillon’ chicken base paste and stir well. Cook for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. When the mixture is hot and thickened, add diced chicken and cooked wild rice. Add 1-2 cups water to thin, depending on your preferred thickness of the soup, and allow to cook until all ingredients are combined and hot, then taste for seasoning.
  3. You can add a tiny dash of cayenne powder if you like (I usually don’t). Adjust for seasoning. For a more robust chicken flavor, add more of the chicken base, 1 tbsp at a time, but be aware it is quite salty. You can always add more water or broth if the soup is too thick. When the soup is piping hot and well-seasoned (taste test), stir in 1⁄2 cup half and half and then mix in the parsley.

Note: Do not let the soup boil after adding the half and half, as it could curdle. If you prefer, you can just leave the half and half out—it is optional. Conversely, you could substitute heavy cream for the half and half to make the soup richer and creamier. Soup flavor is even better the next day!

Vegan Option: Substitute olive oil (1/2 c.) for the butter, use vegetable broth instead of chicken, and omit Bouillon base. Add 2 cups sliced or diced sautéed mushrooms instead of chicken. Omit half and half.

Click here to download the recipe!

Soup of the Day Restaurants

Our local restaurants are partnering with us during Empty Bowls week. These restaurants have been a long-standing Empty Bowl soup provider, so instead of us picking up soup, we are encouraging you to order directly from them. Each day a local donor will give $5 to PROP for every order placed up to $500 per day.

February 21: Peoples Organic

February 22: Houlihan’s

February 23: Tavern 4&5

February 24: Kona Grill

February 25: Crumb Gourmet Deli

Check out each restaurant with Jenifer!

Empty Bowls 2022 Sponsors

Thank you to our 2022 Empty Bowls Sponsors

 

Sandcastle Foundation

Zinpro

Henkel

Tennant

Scoular

St. Andrew Lutheran Church

Chanhassen American Legion

Barr Engineering

ECA Marketing

Scheels

EA Sween

Lakewinds

WSB

Western National Insurance

Trinity Exteriors

Immanuel Lutheran

Greenheck Group

Xcel Energy

Knights of Columbus

Electrical Production Services

Charter Bank

Quantitative Advantage

Old National

MidwestOne Bank

Prairie School of Dance

Jerry’s Foods

State Farm

Pax Christi

Welu Home Team

Washburn McReavy

Star Bank

Gunnar

Featured News

Recent News

Keeping Families in their Homes for the Holidays Matching Campaign

Keeping Families in their Homes for the Holidays Matching Campaign

Making Holidays Bright for All

“PROP means a lot to our family.”

Here is Angela’s Story : PROP was a life saver for us during the pandemic. At the time, I was pregnant and my husband was laid off and also had issues with his unemployment benefits. We couldn’t pay our full rent and so we were behind on payments. PROP helped us catch up on rent, utilities and even found a resource to help make a car payment. We thank PROP for all of the support, care, loads of food and beneficial resources.”  Your gift to PROP can help families throughout Eden Prairie and Chanhassen who are facing the same stressors as Angela’s. As the end of the year approaches, please consider sending a tax-deductible donation to PROP. For every gift given this holiday season, a generous local couple will match your gift dollar-for dollar up to $25,000. Your investment in PROP will have double the impact! This gift match opportunity ends December 31st at midnight. We thank you.

Give Stocks and Appreciated Investments

OR

Mail a check to PROP Food  at 14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344. Please write ‘Housing’ on the check.

Holiday Gift Program 2021

Holiday Gift Program 2021

Back by popular demand, we are excited to share our Holiday Program for 2021. This special program provides seniors and families with kids $30 gift cards for the holiday. PROP clients love this program to help ease the financial burden they experience during the holiday and as one mom mentioned, it helps me “continue to pay extra towards the bills that have a past due balance AND STILL surprise my kids with something nice!”

Here’s how you can sponsor a child or senior this holiday! 

Purchase Gift Card Online and have it sent directly to PROP.

Buy a $30 Target Gift Card* at any Target store and mail to PROP (14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie, MN 55344).