Food shelves plan open houses in Cologne, Watertown

Two area food shelfs will be marking the opening of new locations with events.

The Cologne food shelf, operated by Bountiful Basket out of Chaska, will celebrate the opening of its new location in downtown Cologne at 102 Lake Street West with an open house Sunday, Oct. 6 from 1-3 p.m. The event will include snacks, beverages and tours by food shelf volunteers.

Gather and Grow of Waconia is highlighting a refresh of its Watertown location at an open house next Wednesday, Oct. 9 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. That event will include a ribbon cutting at 6:30 p.m. with the Watertown Chamber of Commerce.

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf expanded to Cologne just over a year ago to bring more food resource options to that area and western portions of Carver County, Patti Sinykin, executive director, said at the time. The new food shelf caught on quickly at its original space in old St. Bernard’s church school, and she said it soon became clear that a real retail environment would be better to serve the growing number of food recipients, and make it easier for volunteers to unload food deliveries and stock shelves. The new location is in a building that earlier was a gas station and a liquor store.

“We moved in mid-August and the new space is working out wonderfully providing a grocery-like shopping experience,” Sinykin said.

Waconia’s Gather and Grow food shelf announced its expansion to Watertown this spring at that community’s food shelf located in the city hall building at 309 Lewis Avenue South. The local food shelf received grants from Carver County Public Health and Community Foundation for Carver County to grow its services at the Watertown site.

“With fresh paint, new bi-lingual signage, bright pictures, and new shelving, we are proud to offer inside shopping to the Watertown and Mayer area and a dignified experience where shoppers can choose their own groceries,” said Angie Cruzen. Gather and Grow executive director. “We will be a certified Super Shelf like our Waconia site and are thrilled to bring these updates to Watertown.”

The Waconia and Watertown locations are serving about 580 clients each month. Bountiful Basket has been averaging more than 220 visits a month at its Cologne location and over 1,000 visits a month at its flagship Chaska location. Food shelf directors say the growing numbers come as individuals and families continue to struggle with the end of pandemic programs, and the pressures of months of inflation on the price of groceries and other essentials.