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To the unfamiliar, the scene might have passed as unremarkable.
But as Shelley and I pulled into the gas station in this northern Twin Cities town, we both immediately spotted it. With some experience, scenes like this actually are quite common.
Parked along the sidewalk leading into the convenience store was a larger industrial van equipped to haul around food in all its various states of packaging. And there were two people loading the van from a rolling cart on the ground.
It was a van from a local food shelf and free clothing closet called the Monticello Hope Center. And the two volunteers -- Barb and Rick -- were loading what we call "retail rescue" into the van. These are food products -- some about to expire, some that just aren't selling, some that are overstocks -- that stores offer for free to pantries and other organizations, including our facilities that we operate in our hometown.
In fact, I was thrilled to see that it was the same convenience store chain they were picking up products from that also donates to our organization's pantry. Go Wisconsin-based convenience chain that shall remain nameless! Wink.
Shelley had gone ahead into the store, but after I topped off our gas, I felt compelled to say hello and inquire about their organization. It's important to learn all we can from others who are in the fight to provide enough food to everyone.
When I introduced myself, both Barb and Rick were gracious with their time, and we traded stories from the front lines, all which were stunningly similar.
Last year, the Monticello Help Center served 9,538 families in 2025, distributing nearly a million pounds of food! The nonprofit organization also gave away 96,661 household and clothing items too.
Friends, this exurb -- I suppose the experts would call it -- is a solid middle class community. It's not downtrodden, to say the least.
And our organization, which is located 200 miles northwest, distributed food and clothing to even more families than the Monticello Help Center did last year. Our hometown too is a solidly middle class burgh.
Friends, the numbers of our neighbors in need, regardless of where you live, are on the rise. I haven't spoken to anyone who operates a shelter or food pantry who says they are serving fewer folks since I started at mine more than two years ago.
Barb and Rick shared they've been volunteering for nine years, and the growth in the numbers of people their organization serves is heartbreaking. I shared my similar sentiments.
Just before we parted ways, for a minute we stood in silence, trading empathetic looks. No more words needed to be said. We both understood the weight we bear.
"Blessings to you both, and your mission," I said. "I'll be praying for you." ... Same, they said. Amen.
Devlyn Brooks is the CEO of Churches United in Moorhead, Minn., and an ordained pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America serving Faith Lutheran Church in Wolverton, Minn. He blogs about faith at findingfaithin.com, and can be reached at devlynbrooks@gmail.com.