As I reflect on the past year, I am profoundly grateful for the compassion and generosity that sustain this volunteer-driven food shelf. Our work is shaped by small, meaningful moments: a warm smile at the door, a helping hand graciously offered, or words of comfort shared. These moments remind us why we are here and why this work matters.

Our mission is simple and enduring: to reduce hunger in our community by respectfully providing nutritionally balanced food to those in need. We believe that nourishing food is a cornerstone of community well-being, both physically and emotionally, and that every person deserves to be met with dignity, kindness, and respect.

This year unfolded amid ongoing uncertainty. Across Minnesota, families have been navigating rising food prices, housing and utility costs, and an emotional climate shaped by broader social and civic tension. Many of the people we serve, including over 1,300 families seeking help for the first time, felt these pressures acutely, making everyday stability harder to maintain. As a result, more individuals and families turned to food shelves for support, often visiting more frequently as they worked to meet their basic needs.

In 2025, we served 5,103 families and shared more than 1.8 million pounds of food with our community and surrounding areas. Notably, 42 percent of those we served were children, highlighting how deeply food insecurity affects families. Behind each of these numbers is a person, a family, a story, and our commitment remained steady: to be present when people needed support most, continuing to serve hope, love, and food. We offered comfort in uncertain moments, connection in times of isolation, and reassurance that no one has to face hunger alone.

Meeting this growing need came with significant challenges. Food costs increased, funding slowed, and supply shortages persisted. Yet through it all, we remained focused on what matters most: getting healthy food to those who needed it. Over the course of the year, we provided over 150,000 pounds of food each month, a testament to the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and community supporters who made this enormous effort possible.

This year also brought a major transition for our organization. We separated from Our Lady of the Lake Church and established our own 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Stepping into this new chapter has been both bittersweet and challenging, leaving a place that nurtured our beginnings while embracing the independence and responsibility of building our own identity and infrastructure. The journey required courage, collaboration, and flexibility from everyone involved, and we are deeply grateful for the support that helped us succeed.

Because of you—our volunteers, donors, partners, and community members—we were able to continue this important work. Volunteers offered their time and kindness, greeting our patrons with warmth and care. Donors gave generously, even while facing rising costs themselves. Gardeners, retailers, civic organizations, churches, and businesses throughout our community shared their time, food, resources, and support that sustained our efforts.

As we look ahead, we know that many people will continue to need support. While challenges remain, we move forward with steady confidence, grounded in the compassion and generosity of this community.

On behalf of our staff and board, thank you for believing in this work and in the people we serve. Your support allows us to keep our doors open, our shelves full, and our commitment to our community strong. Together, we continue caring for our community, one person at a time.

With gratitude,

Michelle Bottenfield
Executive Director, Westonka Community Food Shelf

Our Director
Michelle Bottenfield

Our Board Members
Pastor Loren Davis
Rhonda Eurich
Jill Lawrence
Michelle Repp
Fr. Peter Richards
Kent Richey
Melissa Leddy
Jenny Hays
Barry Blievernicht
Andrew Myers 
Ronald Hafner