The CAER Food Shelf depends on the generosity of individuals in the community, like you, to provide items for people in need. Since 1979, CAER has helped thousands of people. More than half of those helped were children.
Due to the economic downturn, CAER is experiencing an unprecedented need for food and assistance. There is an average of 78 more visits per month in 2008 compared to 2007. To continue providing essential services to our clients and your neighbors that may be struggling, your help is needed! The shelves at CAER are alarmingly low. We are running out of many basic food items and these are often not available through the food bank (Second Harvest) at this time either, as the demand state wide is so high.
Below we have outlined just some of the ways that you can help CAER provide services to those in need in our community. Please see the detail pages for more information about any of the following topics.
Our volunteers and your donations of food and cash are critical in allowing CAER to continue to provide service and we thank you for your support!!
Donations of Cash & Goods To CAER
Food & Clothing Donation Information CAER gladly accepts donations of food & clothing during our regular business hours: M - W - F 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday & Thursday evening 6 - 8 p.m. Just ring the doorbell near the garage door and someone will assist you.
And for a list of URGENTLY NEEDED items, please see the right hand column of our home page.
Donations via Check or Cash You can deliver your donation directly to CAER during our service hours or mail your donation to: CAER Food Shelf 19279 Watson St. NW Elk River, MN 55330
*Checks should be made out to Community Aid Elk River
Donate Online via Paypal
Volunteer at CAER
Volunteers are truly the backbone of our organization. Our volunteers assist with food distribution, with the sorting and organization of donations such as food, and with other special projects throughout the year. During food drives our volunteer needs can increase dramatically.
Volunteers make all the difference to our neighbors in need! If you are interested in volunteering, please download and fill out the Volunteer Form shown below and if you have any questions, please contact CAER. Thanks!
If you are interested in assisting CAER with a fundraising effort or hosting your own fundraiser to raise either cash, food or goods for the food shelf, please contact us. CAER is always looking for great organizers to assist with special projects or fundraisers such as the Cow-A-Bunga Bingo Raffle or the CAER Classic Golf Tournament.
One great way to get involved in the fight against hunger is to organize a food drive. This is particularly effective if you belong to a group where you can get a majority of the members to participate. For more ideas about food drives, please visit our hold a food drive web page.
Consider trying to get your fellow gardeners involved with CAER by encouraging everyone to 'Grow A Row' for the food shelf. The food shelf clients rarely get fresh produce so this program has been a big hit. For more details about the Grow A Row program, please click here.
CAER is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit. All contributions are tax deductible (as allowed by law).
