Wow, the emails have been pouring in the past couple weeks from people who have just sent letters to their neighbors to initiate a food shelf pick-up; people who have just completed their first pick-up; and some who are asking questions and gathering information to take the first step. It is a rich experience to be on the receiving end of these letters and be inspired by so many big hearts.

It's also neat to hear how people are taking ownership of their own neighborhood food shelf pick-ups. One family had pencils with snowflakes made with the words "Thanks for feeding the hungry" to leave at the front door of all those who contribute food this month. A couple families have left a can of food with a Project FoodStock label attached at the front door of all those in their neighborhoods. The labels are printed with pick-up times and dates, and neighbors are invited to leave them on their pantry shelf as a reminder to leave food out for the food shelf pick-up.

One family in Lakeville has invited all the children in their neighborhood to help with their monthly pick-up. This month, seventeen kids assisted, hopped in two vehicles, and all helped deliver the food to the food shelf! Another mom shares about her three-year-old's response to the food shelf pick-up... "Every time we saw a bag [of food on a front step] it was like opening a present!"

We are getting regular reports of 100...150...200 pounds of food being delivered to food shelves all across Dakota County. People of all ages and stages of life are growing the definition of what it means to be a caring neighbor.