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   The Longville Area Food Shelf is excited to participate in the annual Give to the Max Day on Thursday, Nov. 20. Give to the Max Day, statewide grassroots giving event organized by GiveMN, has raised more than $330 million for more than 10,000 organizations since its inaugural year in 2009. The Longville Area Food Shelf received $25,000 in gifts from donors during Give to the Max Day 2024. 

   The mission of the Longville Area Food Shelf is to involve our communities to end hunger. We are grateful that our community helps us to fulfill this mission every day through donations, volunteerism, and shopping at our thrift store, The Tossed & Found Boutique. The Tossed & Found exists because of the food shelf, and the food shelf provides many wonderful services because of the Tossed & Found Boutique.  

   As Give to the Max Day 2025 approaches on Thursday, November 20th, we want to remind you of the significant impact your support has on the Longville Area Food Shelf. This is an ideal time to review and plan your contributions.

   “In 2024, tens of thousands of Minnesotans and supporters from around the world came together to raise a record-breaking $37 million for 6,556 nonprofits and schools across our state,” said Jenna Ray, executive director of GiveMN, the nonprofit behind Give to the Max. “Individual donor support continues to be a powerful force for good. Every dollar donated fuels the essential work of local nonprofits to improve lives and strengthen our neighborhoods.” 

    To participate, visit GiveMN.org and search for the causes you care about most using keywords, your location, or by organization name. Give to the Max’s Early Giving period begins Nov. 1 and the campaign culminates on Give to the Max Day, Thursday, Nov. 20. 

    Each donation through GiveMN.org qualifies The Longville Area Food Shelf for additional grants from the Give to the Max Day prize pool, thanks to the continued generosity of the Bush Foundation. On Nov. 20, Give to the Max Day, GiveMN will award: 

   • $500 Early Giving Golden Tickets daily on Nov. 1-19 

   • $500 Golden Ticket prizes every 15 minutes on Nov. 20 

   • $1,000 Hourly Golden Ticket prizes hourly on Nov. 20 

   • $6,000 Power Hour Prizes, shared among the top three organizations based on the amount raised between 10:00–10:59 a.m. and 10:00–10:59 p.m. 

   • The grand prize of Give to the Max Day, a $10,000 Super-Sized Golden Ticket, drawn from all gifts made Nov. 1-20. Additionally, dozens of regional prizes will be awarded to organizations across much of Greater Minnesota, thanks to the support of the Initiative Foundation, Southwest Initiative Foundation, Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation, Northwest Minnesota Foundation, and West Central Initiative. 

   To follow along with Give to the Max and make a gift to your favorite cause, visit GiveMN.org beginning Nov. 1, and use #GTMD24 to join in the conversation online. 

About Longville Area Food Shelf:

   Our Food Shelf first opened 28 years ago in 1997 and operated out of the basement of a funeral home, staffed by volunteers from 4 local churches. We have evolved and grown over the years. One of the challenges our food shelf faces is the increasing cost of food. The demands on all food shelves across the region have increased dramatically. This means the demand for food banks like Second Harvest Northland has increased dramatically as well. The Longville Area Food Shelf food costs increased by 23% from 2023 to 2024. That increase has continued this year and is expected to continue into 2026. This is partially because of limited supply. We are only able to get about 50% of the food we need from Second Harvest. Most of the food we need to purchase from other sources is fresh produce and dairy products like milk, eggs, cheese, and butter. To ensure our fruit, vegetables and dairy are fresh, our food shelf purchases almost all these items from other wholesale vendors.

   We are so grateful to live in the generous and caring community of Longville! It is because of our generous donors, and shoppers, that we can help our community in so many wonderful ways! Please help us to continue to be able to do our work in the challenging years ahead. We are often asked what we need the most at our food shelf… The answer to this is monetary funds. Our purchasing power is much greater by purchasing in bulk. We can make a $10 donation go much further than your individual $10 alone. 

   Can you help with a donation during the Give to The Max Campaign? Early Giving starts November 1 and runs through November 20. Donate at GiveMN.org or mail a check to The Longville Area Food Shelf, PO Box 308, Longville MN 56655.

    Thank you so much for 28 years of support to our Food Shelf!

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