Finding 'a home,' and not just food at Fruit of the Vine in Burnsville

The week leading up to Thanksgiving is always one of the busiest at Fruit of the Vine food shelf in Burnsville, where families normally too proud to seek help are encouraged to accept it.

For some, it's the only way to get a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner; for others, it's the only way to have a meal at all.

"It hits you hard when you have to come in the first time — makes you feel like all eyes are on you," said Juan Morales, one of the organization's volunteer team leaders.

But often first-timers' embarrassment melts away soon after they walk in the door, he said, because neighbors tend to find a home there.

The nonprofit is the state's largest single-site food shelf, serving about 900 families — or 8,000 people — a month. On Tuesday, volunteers provided nearly 200 families with a 10-day supply of groceries, including frozen turkeys for most.

Fruit of the Vine operates out of South Metro Vineyard Church, which holds services in English and Spanish each week. The charity runs separately from the church, but many of its volunteers are members.

Most of the residents who rely on the food shelf suffer from "situational poverty," said executive director Brian Geraty. Anyone within 200 percent of the federal poverty level is welcome to assistance twice a month, but most only come a few times a year until they can get back on their feet.

Geraty helped launch the program in the midst of the recession, which crippled families and affected suburban demographics. The clientele has become 39 percent Hispanic, 12 percent black, and 12 percent Russian immigrants.

"We have the world coming to us," Geraty said, adding that people sometimes drive from Wisconsin to get food because there's no residency requirement.

Living testament

Morales and his family joined the English-speaking church after seeking assistance themselves in 2011. His wife had just been laid off and they were struggling to make ends meet, so they swallowed their pride and walked in one day.

Now, Morales says, he's a living testament to how the organization can change lives — which is why his family continues to volunteer long after they stopped receiving help.

Holidays are especially difficult because of extra expenses, he said, so "if we can eliminate the grocery costs for one week, then hopefully it will lessen the load."

Most volunteers, like Morales, currently rely on the food shelf or have in the past.

Patricia Pomposo's 12-year-old son regularly works in the back of the assembly line-style operation, filling carts with bread, veggies and other food for neighbors while his family waits in the lobby for their own groceries.

With only one source of income, Pomposo's family was barely staying afloat before reaching out for help. During the stressful holiday season, Pomposo said, getting groceries from the shelf twice a month will allow her to save enough money to buy her two children Christmas presents.

"We're all here for the necessities," she said.

Nutrition aid

Newcomers to the shelf are given a number as they enter the church and get registered. Volunteers take down their information, including the number of people in the family. Sometimes, as they're waiting, a University of Minnesota nutritionist will offer information about how to eat better.

When the order is ready, the name is called and a volunteer pushes a shopping cart full of food to their car. The amount is based on family size.

Volunteer Brad Cramer keeps neighbors company during the process, often lending a prayer if requested. He tries to keep people happy in their time of need, he said.

"I'm going to make it my job to make it as little like a government office as possible," said Cramer, adding that recipients' stories remind him why he stays. One man was ready to pawn his wedding ring for groceries so he could feed his family, until Cramer ushered him inside.

Little by little, the staff notices regulars stop coming back or shift permanently into a volunteer-only role — which is what they want for everyone.

"We're one of those organizations," said Geraty, "that hope to go out of business,"

Liz Sawyer • 952-746-3282