Food Security Communities has a new home, and it has company.
Joined by Austin Aspires and representatives from the United Way of Mower County Backpack Program, the HFSP and its partners unveiled their office location with a grand-opening event Sept. 25 in Austin, Minn. Located at 318 N Main Street, the new downtown storefront promises to be a haven of helpful resources for the people of Mower County.
While the HFSP’s mission is to combat food insecurity in Mower County, the primary objective of Austin Aspires is to aid local students, cradle to career. To undertake both tasks simultaneously, a collaborative approach was required, a collective sharing of ideas and resources. That is exactly what this new office space represents.
“None of this happens alone. There’s not one person or one organization that can inspire the kind of change we want to see in our community,” said Jim Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods, one of the founding organizations of the HFSP. “As a company, we’ve been strong advocates and supporters of hunger-relief efforts, promoting food security and advancing education. This work is very necessary, and we are pleased to be able to support these efforts.”
The office is conveniently located, within walking distance of the Salvation Army, Mower County Health and Human Services and the Austin Farmers Market, among several other downtown establishments offering services.
“I can stand at the corner of our office and point to the housing authority, to the United Way. There are just so many resources downtown,” said Gema Alvarado-Guerrero, workforce wellness facilitator for Hormel Foods and a leading HFSP coalition member. “There is a huge benefit for us being in this space.”
The new office location will better connect community members in need to the resources that can help them. Food is available at the new location, of course, as are educational resources like tutoring and early childhood development. There are even hotspot checkouts available, with digital-equity coordinators stationed at the office multiple times per week to help people gain access to affordable connectivity.
