Heart disease is becoming one of the most pervasive health issues in society today - and in answer to that problem, the Becker County Food Pantry and Canadian Pacific Holiday Train are asking local residents to take part in their Healthy Donations Challenge when the Holiday Train makes its annual visit to Detroit Lakes next Sunday, Dec. 14. CP Holiday Train organizers issued the Healthy Donations Challenge this year as a means of generating healthier donations to local food banks and food shelves as the train makes its way across the U.S. and Canada. “Canadian Pacific wants us to commit at least 10 percent of the donations we receive toward heart healthy foods,” said Becker County Food Pantry Director Jack Berenz. Those bringing in non-perishable food items are also encouraged to emphasize heart healthy, nutritious choices as well; CP’s goal is to have 20,000 people take an online pledge to underscore how important it is that everyone has access to nutritious food. Anyone who wishes to participate may do so at ‘You can show your commitment’ at http://bit.ly/1x6u4r8. The U.S. and Canadian trains are making stops in more than 150 communities as they travel across North America this holiday season. The U.S. train will arrive in Detroit Lakes at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, and deliver a 45-minute holiday show before heading on down the rails to its next stop. This year’s musical lineup for the Holiday Train show includes one of Minnesota’s own - country vocal band Home Free. The group has been performing live shows since the early 2000s and made headlines in December 2013 when they were crowned as champions of the fourth season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” They will appear as returning champions when the fifth season of the a capella vocal competition returns to the airwaves on Dec. 17.
Also taking the stage for the Holiday Train show will be two well-known Canadian country music stars, CCM Award-winning singer-songwriter Kira Isabella and Juno award-winner Tracey Brown, of The Family Brown fame. Though there is no charge for this show, attendees are asked to bring cash donations or non-perishable food items to support the local Food Pantry. In fact, Berenz says, it’s the Food Pantry’s second-biggest fundraiser of the year, behind only its annual March food drive. “Canadian Pacific typically gives us about $1,000, and we’ve been getting anywhere between $1,500-$2,500 a year in (local) donations,” Berenz said, noting that for record-keeping purposes, every pound of food donated equates to $1 in cash, and vice versa. The need has never been greater. Berenz said that since the year 2000, the Food Pantry’s clientele has grown from just under 3,300 served to nearly 16,500 in 2013 - and it’s not slowing down any. “In comparing the first 11 months of this year to last year, nine of those months showed an increase (in usage),” Berenz said. Unfortunately, supply hasn’t always kept up with demand. Last year, the total amount of food distributed actually went down slightly, from 225.8 tons in 2012 to 222.9 tons in 2013. “We had to decrease the size of the boxes… we just didn’t have it to give,” he said. Though the annual March food drive, which coincides with Minnesota Food Share Month, is critical to Food Pantry operations, the importance of the annual Holiday Train contribution cannot be overemphasized, Berenz added. “It’s a very big event for us,” he said, adding that he’s very proud of how supportive the people of Becker County have always been in keeping the Food Pantry’s doors open. “It’s a community effort, no question,” he said. Follow Detroit Lakes Newspapers reporter Vicki Gerdes on Twitter at @VickiLGerdes.Heart disease is becoming one of the most pervasive health issues in society today - and in answer to that problem, the Becker County Food Pantry and Canadian Pacific Holiday Train are asking local residents to take part in their Healthy Donations Challenge when the Holiday Train makes its annual visit to Detroit Lakes next Sunday, Dec. 14.CP Holiday Train organizers issued the Healthy Donations Challenge this year as a means of generating healthier donations to local food banks and food shelves as the train makes its way across the U.S. and Canada.“Canadian Pacific wants us to commit at least 10 percent of the donations we receive toward heart healthy foods,” said Becker County Food Pantry Director Jack Berenz.Those bringing in non-perishable food items are also encouraged to emphasize heart healthy, nutritious choices as well; CP’s goal is to have 20,000 people take an online pledge to underscore how important it is that everyone has access to nutritious food.Anyone who wishes to participate may do so at ‘You can show your commitment’ at http://bit.ly/1x6u4r8.The U.S. and Canadian trains are making stops in more than 150 communities as they travel across North America this holiday season. The U.S. train will arrive in Detroit Lakes at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 14, and deliver a 45-minute holiday show before heading on down the rails to its next stop.This year’s musical lineup for the Holiday Train show includes one of Minnesota’s own - country vocal band Home Free.The group has been performing live shows since the early 2000s and made headlines in December 2013 when they were crowned as champions of the fourth season of NBC’s “The Sing-Off.” They will appear as returning champions when the fifth season of the a capella vocal competition returns to the airwaves on Dec. 17.
Also taking the stage for the Holiday Train show will be two well-known Canadian country music stars, CCM Award-winning singer-songwriter Kira Isabella and Juno award-winner Tracey Brown, of The Family Brown fame.Though there is no charge for this show, attendees are asked to bring cash donations or non-perishable food items to support the local Food Pantry.In fact, Berenz says, it’s the Food Pantry’s second-biggest fundraiser of the year, behind only its annual March food drive.“Canadian Pacific typically gives us about $1,000, and we’ve been getting anywhere between $1,500-$2,500 a year in (local) donations,” Berenz said, noting that for record-keeping purposes, every pound of food donated equates to $1 in cash, and vice versa.The need has never been greater. Berenz said that since the year 2000, the Food Pantry’s clientele has grown from just under 3,300 served to nearly 16,500 in 2013 - and it’s not slowing down any.“In comparing the first 11 months of this year to last year, nine of those months showed an increase (in usage),” Berenz said.Unfortunately, supply hasn’t always kept up with demand.Last year, the total amount of food distributed actually went down slightly, from 225.8 tons in 2012 to 222.9 tons in 2013.“We had to decrease the size of the boxes… we just didn’t have it to give,” he said.Though the annual March food drive, which coincides with Minnesota Food Share Month, is critical to Food Pantry operations, the importance of the annual Holiday Train contribution cannot be overemphasized, Berenz added.“It’s a very big event for us,” he said, adding that he’s very proud of how supportive the people of Becker County have always been in keeping the Food Pantry’s doors open.“It’s a community effort, no question,” he said. Follow Detroit Lakes Newspapers reporter Vicki Gerdes on Twitter at @VickiLGerdes.
