25K matching grant to memorialize selfless Elk River food shelf volunteer

by Jim Boyle

Editor

A matching donation of $25,000 for Community Aid Elk River is helping keep the memory alive of one of the many selfless volunteers who have helped out at the local food shelf.

Barb Middlestadt donated countless hours to the CAER food shelf, at 12621 Elk Lake Road NW, as did her husband, Ron.

“They were such a nice family,” said Patty Boushek of the Boushek Foundation when asked why the decision was made to make a matching donation in her honor. “That’s really the short of it. They were just caring people that sometimes don’t get noticed.”

More than $1,100 was raised since the memorial fund drive was added on Wednesday to the food shelf’s websitehttps://www.caerfoodshelf.org/donate, according to Heather Kliewer, executive director of CAER.

“We will greatly miss Barb,” Kliewer said. “She is now part of our family of angels who have generously given their time and talents to meet the needs of local families.”

Kliewer said nothing is more important than the volunteers at CAER who donate their time selflessly to make a difference in the lives of others struggling with food insecurity.

In addition to the years spent helping out at CAER, Barb was also a 4-H leader for the Busy Bees 4-H club. She was very active in various fair-related events with her 4-H members, including the fair parade and the 4-H food booth where she was head cook for many years, according to some research done by one of the CAER board members.

“Her caring nature and hard work touched many lives, including those of our staff, fellow volunteers and our clients,” Kliewer said.

This financial tribute will continue CAER’s mission of providing essential food assistance to those in need and ensuring ongoing support for the community’s most vulnerable members.

“Please keep Ron and his family in your prayers during this time,” Kliewer said.