How do you pay for all of this?  "We get 59% of our support from state and federal government for specific programs.  The rest is from foundations, private people, local and non-local.  Once in a while people donate a car or even a house.  We get very little or no government support for the food shelf.  The food shelf is almost all volunteers."
Does the food shelf also receive nonfood items?  "Yes.  We need sham-poo, diapers, toilet paper, kleenex, soap, toothpaste.  Second Harvest doesn't have any of those things for us."
Do you get to know the people in need?  Do they tell you why they don't have food for themselves or their family?  "Yes.  Generally it's because they lost their job.  Many of our families are the working poor.  More than 50% are work-ing or underemployed.  They don't have doctor and dentist insurances. 
"Sometimes it's generational, which means it's harder.  Some people assume that people come here because they made poor choices, but bad things happen to people.  People get laid off.  When people lose a job, they lose that one paycheck away from poverty.
"Some of it is due to mental illness.  Some of the poor will always be here.  We ask them not to come more than once a month, but we won't turn them away if they come more often."
How is poverty defined today?  "Research finds that in a family of four, with both parents working, both workers need to earn an average of $11.40/hour to meet their basic needs of food, housing, health, child care, transportation.  We have the reality of people living on entry level incomes.  If we can help stabilize a family through tough times, we are happy with that."
How do people, 40 to 50 per day you said,  move grocery carts in that little space with the food shelves?  "We ask people to make appointments so that they arrive throughout the day and so they can plan their transportation.  They are not here all at one time."
Do you have enough food for the holidays?  "This is a pretty good time for us.  After school starts, the kids are involved in giving programs, and the Boy Scouts are active.  People give for the holidays and we are grateful.  We never have to tell clients that there is no food.  If nothing else, we rob Peter to pay Paul."
Is there such a thing as having too much food at the food shelf?  "No.  In some seasons it can become a storage problem, but we know that the food will be needed and used."
Do you like your work?  "I've worked here 27 years, the last 10 years as Deputy Director.  I have a lot of pride in this work and in how we treat people.  We are personal.  We know people by name.  We know families.  We welcome those in need and we welcome those who can give to people in need."

After visiting the food shelf and other places under the roof of the CAP Agency, this editor is re-affirmed in her belief that the generosity of people is as great as the need of people.  There are good hearts in people.  It seems, at least in these three counties of Minnesota, that we are learn-ing and trying to practice the virtues of hospitality, kindness, thankfulness.  We are trying to be there for each other.
No matter which side of the line we find ourselves on, through fortune or misfortune, we can reach out all year long and especially at Christmas time.  We are in this together and it is only together that we can answer "Where is the food shelf?"  It's probably the same as asking "Where is my neighbor?" or "Where is the Christ Child?"
If we follow the right star we will see there are many doors to open at the CAP Agency, doors that go both ways.  Give Mary Riley a call at 952-496-2125 or send a check to the CAP Agency Food Shelf, 712 Canterbury Road, Shakopee, MN 55379.  Thank you, Mary and friends, for your dedication and good work.