The Salvation Army and Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless recently announced the seventh annual $150,000 Food Shelf Challenge Grant.

Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless, in partnership with Hunger Solutions of Minnesota, will proportionally match donations to the Albert Lea Salvation Army food shelf during the month of July, up to $5,000.

“I don’t mean to get emotional, but if it wasn’t for The Salvation Army, there are many nights my kids would have gone hungry,” Trish Anderson of Albert Lea said. “It’s a blessing to know that I have this available to me and everybody in the community has this available to them.”

Anderson is a mother to five boys and initially struggled to ask The Salvation Army for help. She thought there were other people who needed the help more than her. She also convinced herself that even if she did receive food, her boys would not like it, which couldn’t be further from the truth.

“It’s like I go grocery shopping when I go to the food shelf,” Anderson said. “They’re literally ecstatic to see what treats mom brings home today.”

Donations to food shelves are typically down during the summer, but when kids are home from school the need for donations is even greater.

You can donate online or send a check to the Albert Lea Salvation Army, 302 Court St., Albert Lea, MN 56007.

The Salvation Army Northern Division has been serving Minnesota and North Dakota communities since 1886. Today the northern division serves all 140 counties of both states, providing food, shelter, clothing, youth programs and other critical services to more than 480,000 people per year. To learn more, visit Salvation Army North on Facebook.

Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless has 30 years of experience as the only grant provider in Minnesota focused solely on alleviating hunger and homelessness. According to a press release, Open Your Heart believes bringing communities together to work towards a common goal is the most effective way to try to alleviate hunger in the state. Since 1986, Open Your Heart has targeted millions of dollars to strategically fight hunger in Minnesota. The nonprofit funds the purchase and transfer of more than one million pounds of fresh produce, meat and dairy products every year through Hunger Solutions Minnesota.