Galen’s 18 Years of Volunteerism and Hunger Relief
If you’ve ever visited Aliveness Project on a Wednesday, chances are you’ve met Galen, our food shelf volunteer.
“I started in November of 2007,” he says, smiling. “I saw a flyer for the Holiday Basket Program and called on Monday. They told me to come in Wednesday morning, and I basically never left.”
That was 18 years ago. (Right before Thanksgiving to be exact)!
At the time, Galen had just retired from teaching middle school after 31 years in Wisconsin. He moved back to Coon Rapids to care for his mother after she suffered a stroke. Volunteering, he says, gave him purpose.
“When I retired, I wanted to do something that brought no financial or material gain to me,” he explains. “I never wanted to fill a paid staff position, I just wanted to help.”
When Galen first started at Aliveness, the food shelf was a small storage room, no fridges, no freezers, and no fresh food. “It used to be about the size of an office,” he laughs. “We’d pack grocery bags for members, maybe 45 pounds each, mostly canned and boxed items. Now? We’ve got milk, cheese, beverages, freezers full of frozen food, even pet supplies and toiletries.”
What hasn’t changed is the warmth of the space.
“Seeing the smiles on people’s faces, especially the first time they come through, it really warms the heart,” Galen says. “‘Can I really have four cans?’ they ask. Yes, you can! If someone doesn’t need something, they’ll leave it for someone else. There’s so much kindness in this community.”
Galen knows that food is medicine.
“Food keeps people healthier,” he says. “The body can’t fight HIV without nourishment. Some members don’t have a stove or even a can opener. So we keep food that’s easy to prepare, and we’ll give you a can opener if you need one. Whatever it takes to make sure you can eat.”
It’s that commitment that makes Aliveness’ food shelf more than a service — it’s a lifeline. Members often tell Galen, “This will keep me alive until next month,” or, “Now I can make my baby’s birthday cake.”
“That’s what it’s about,” Galen says. “Meeting the needs of people who are often overlooked.”
Eighteen years later, Galen is still here every Wednesday, cracking jokes, and giving hugs.
“I’ll stop volunteering,” he says with a grin, “when they tell me I can’t bring my walker in the food shelf.”
His hope for Aliveness’ future is simple: “That we keep growing, and that people keep funding this work. We can either pay for it now or pay for it later because if people don’t get food or medication, they end up in hospitals, and that’s far more expensive. We need to take care of people now.”
As Give to the Max Day approaches, Galen’s story reminds us why Aliveness exists.
When you give to Aliveness, you’re making sure our food shelf stays stocked, our members stay nourished, and our doors stay open.
Give today and keep the shelves full: https://www.givemn.org/organization/Alivenessmn
