• The Food Group
  • Fare For All
  • Big River Farms
The Food Group
  • Donate
  • Agency Corner
  • Who We Are
    • Mission and Vision
    • Staff
    • Board of Directors
    • Our Partners
    • Contact Us
  • What We Do
    • Our Programs
    • Impact
    • FAQs
  • Get Involved
    • Donate
      • Donor Privacy & Security Policy
      • Legacy Giving
      • Workplace Matching Gifts
      • IRA Charitable Distribution
      • Become a Monthly Nourisher
      • Donate Stock
      • Bulk Product Donations
      • Donate by Mail or Phone
      • Corporate & Foundation Giving
    • Volunteer
    • Host a Food or Cash Drive
    • Events
    • Job Opportunities
  • News
    • Press & Media
    • The Food Group Blog
    • Newsletters
    • Resources
  • Donate
  • Volunteer
  • Contact Us
  • Our Programs
  • Our Partners
  • Events
  • Staff
  • Board of Directors
  • Job Opportunities
  • Agency Corner

Paying it forward: Random act of kindness changes food distribution from affordable to free

December 19, 2020 by Emily White

Earlier this week, our Fare For All team witnessed a warming and incredibly generous random act of kindness at our Roseville Fare For All site. As dozens of customers lined up, snaked through the parking lot and out into the street, they waited patiently for our sale to begin. Just after the Fare For All staff discussed the sale model and emphasized safety with our volunteers prior to beginning the sale, donors who wished to remain anonymous approached staff and said they wished to pay for the first $1,000 worth of customer sales. The FFA staff strategized with the donors on the smoothest and most effective way to deliver this gift to customers. 

Customers place order from their vehicle at drive through.

As the sale began, Fare For All staff motioned the first vehicle to drive forward. The vehicle had, like many others, arrived early and had been waiting approximately an hour for the sale to begin, eager to make a holiday pack purchase. After telling the Fare For All staff their order, they were informed that an anonymous donor had taken care of the payment for their food and they could simply pull forward to the order pickup area where volunteers would load their food into their vehicle. The customers in the vehicle were stunned and shared their gratitude. 

Customers continued to work their way through the winding line. As they placed their order, payment method ready in-hand, they continued to be told that their order had been taken care of by an anonymous donor and that no payment was needed. As the total sales approached the $1,000 donation, the donors approached staff and said they would like to make another equal donation.

Fare For All staff, Merce (left) and Jay (right) air high five before sale begins

More and more vehicles continued to line up through the parking lot and out into the street. Customers continued to trickle through the line patiently and were told after placing their order that an anonymous donor had paid for their food today. Multiple customers said they were going to cry upon hearing the news. A few customers quite literally started crying. One customer was so stunned and grateful they said “I can’t even drive! I am in such shock!” They took a few deep breaths and were able to be on their way.

Meanwhile, inside, the anonymous donors continued adding to their gift as an hour passed, two hours passed, and we were approaching the final half hour of the sale. The donors informed staff they would like to pay for every last customer that came to the sale, and they did! After over three hours, and approximately 150 households had passed through our FFA drive-through line, the sale came to an end. Over $8,400 in donations went directly to serve our customers. A truly remarkable and heartwarming moment for our customers, our mission, and our community.

To learn more about Fare For All, visit www.fareforall.org.

If you would like to receive email updates from a Fare For All site near you, click here.

Visit Hunger Solutions for additional food resources.

To donate and learn more about The Food Group, visit our site.


This post was written and contributed by Jay Knaeble, Driver at The Food Group

Filed Under: Blog

Recent Posts

  • Volunteers are The Food Group’s Superheroes
  • PIVOT FOR THE PEAK: Centering Equity
  • Moshky Farm – a random collision leads to a beautiful partnership
  • PIVOT FOR THE PEAK: Reaching Seniors
  • PIVOT FOR THE PEAK: Creating New Partnerships

Get Involved

  • Donate
  • Host a Food or Cash Drive
  • Volunteer
  • Events

About us

The Food Group changed its name from Emergency Foodshelf Network in September 2014. Our work remains the same.
  • About Us
  • Our Programs
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Job Opportunities
  • Resources

Contact

8501 54th Ave. N New Hope, MN 55428

763-450-3860

[email protected]

Sign up for our Newsletter

Sign up for our newsletter to get updates on upcoming events, new blog posts, and other exciting Food Group news!
Charities Review Council

Copyright © 2021 - The Food Group