A The Walker Area Food Shelf would like to thank the Walker Legion and the Sons of the American Legion for their gracious gift!

Tony Sauer presents a check for $2,000 from the Walker Legion and a $500 check from the Walker Sons of the American Legion to Andrew Soleta the Executive Director of the Walker Area Food Shelf.

A big thank you to the Pels, Momma Wags and Boomer for a check presented at the Walker Area Food Shelf 4/14 for $1395!

The donation comes from Momma Wags (Kathy Wagner) and Boomer (Larry Kimball) from a coffee hour music event;

A Women’s Fellowship pancake supper;

And Community Church of Walker – UCC 5th Sunday donations.

Thank you to everyone involved for this generous gift!

A big thank you to Rendezvous Brewing for their Rendezvous with a Cause that took place on Saturday 3/28.  Good music, good conversations and good brew were on tap at this event!

Thanks so much to Countryside Co-op for supporting WAFS during the March Campaign!

We are honored by your gift of $5,000.00!

A big THANK YOU to the Portage Brewing Company and to everyone in the area who took the time to come in, have a pint and leave some food or money.  The Walker Area Food Shelf is grateful for your support and generosity!

The second Chili Cook Off held March 7 at the Walker Area Community Center raised $12,449 for the Walker Area Food Shelf. Sponsored by The Pilot-Independent and De La Hunt Media, the event featured 18 chili chefs. The Walker Lions Club received the most votes to be named “Best Chili Chef” and Walker-Hackensack-Akeley Superintendent Kevin Wellen won the “Top Fundraiser Award” for the second straight year by upping last year’s donation to $3,000. Pictured is Chili Cook Off Chair Jean Ruzicka (third from left) handing the check to Walker Area Food Shelf Executive Director Andrew Soleta. Also pictured are (from left) food shelf board members Laurie Weidenborner, Fundraising Chair Terri Fierstine, Roxanne Johnson and Judy Fuller. See page 5A for the community thank you ad.

Photo by Dean Morrill

Thank you for a great Chili Cook Off! 

On Saturday, March 7 the second Chili Cook-Off was held at the Walker Area Community Center a new venue this year, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.  This exciting event had so much enthusiasm and the community definitely showed up to support this tasty event, as the proceeds will benefit the Walker Area Food Shelf during their March campaign which runs March 1 – April 6.

A total of 18 different varieties of chili aromas filled the Walker Rotary Room with many people coming in to participate in the taste-testing and voting on their favorite chili choice.  All of the chilis served were unique and delicious and a big thank you to all of the Chili Chefs, since if you hadn’t stepped forward there wouldn’t be a competition!

On behalf of the Walker Area Food Shelf, we are very grateful and would like to thank the Pilot-Independent for promotion, De La Hunt Media for broadcasting and promotion, the WACC for the use of the Walker Rotary Room, the Walker Legion Auxiliary for providing the scrumptious corn bread, the Walker Area Food Shelf Board members and volunteers who donated all of the absolutely delicious desserts, Leech Lake Gaming for providing the cool bottled water, Hope Lutheran Women Quilters for the gorgeous donated quilt, plus we are thankful for all the participants of the Chili Cook-Off tasting event of the year and everyone who also bid on the many Silent Auction items.  There are many individuals and businesses to be listed that generously gave through monetary donations and also very creative prizes to add to the Silent Auction.  The following is a listing of these contributions received from:

American National Bank

Jon & Beth Andersen

Anonymous donors

Art and Antique Mall of Walker

Arvig

Gary & Darlene Bakker

Bank Forward

Barb’s Greenhouse & Gardens

Bayside Bar & Grill

Donna Beckerleg

Ben Brovold American Family Insurance

Benson’s Eating & Drinking Emporium

Brad Spry State Farm Insurance

Kay Berzak

Steve Bilben

Bre Vinkemeier Photography

Brittany’s Floral and Greenhouse

Christmas Point Wild Rice Co.

City Sanitary Service

Countryside Co-op

De La Hunt Media

Dick Weinberg Guide Service

Executive Interiors

Terri Fierstine

Five Star Auto Body

Five Training

Frizzell Furniture

Grand Vu Lodge

Green Scene Market & Eatery

Hackensack Lumber & Hardware

Hair on 5th

Heritage

Hiawatha Beach Resort

Ike’s Heating and Cooling

Jenny’s Beehive

Lakes Area Powersports

Lakeside Fireplace & Stove, LLC

Lampert’s Cabinets, Inc.

Leech Lake Area Chamber of Commerce

Log Homes Minnesota Inc

Mara Loomis

Mann Lake

Lynne Marchese

Morrill Construction, LLC

Northern Harbor Dock & Lift LL

NorthFire Arms and Outdoors Training

Northwoods Dock & Service

Orton Oil Co.

Park Rapids/Walker Eye Clinic

Peculiar Painter

Qwik Pack & Ship of Walker

Resort Marine & Service

Rice Creative Services, LLC

SJ Commercial Advisors

Shear Image

Southside Fuel Plus

Spitzack Builders, Inc.

Tj’s Floral & Gifts

Terra Reflections

The Piggy Legendary BBQ

Thrivent Northern Skies Group

Tianna Country Club

Up North Power & Sports

Village Homes of Walker

Carroll Voight

Walker American Legion Spencer-Ross Post 134

Walker General Store

Walker Home Center

Walker Marine

Kevin Wellen

Willow & Water Wellness and IV

Zeroproof Bottle Shop

            This is an excellent opportunity to honor our neighbors experiencing food insecurity.  We are grateful to compassionate givers that choose to donate to the cause we share with your time, talent and treasure.

As a reminder, the March campaign runs from March 1 through April 6, 2026 and with each donation during this time period there is a proportionate match through Minnesota FoodShare that will help food dollars stretch even further.

Donations can be made through the website:  walkerareafoodshelf.com

PayPal, Venmo and QR Code

Mailing a check to:  P.O. Box 1101, Walker, MN  56484

Drop off a donation at the Walker Area Food Shelf,

8243 Industrial Park Rd. NW, Walker, MN

218-547-1713

God bless you and thank you for your generosity.

We look forward to seeing you next year at the 3^rd Annual Chili Cook-Off!

Sincerely,

Terri Fierstine

Walker Area Food Shelf Board member

Check your mail or area churches for our Annual Newsletter! 

Check out our summary of the happenings and work for the past year at the Walker Area Food Shelf.  We hope that you will consider giving of your time (volunteering) or by donations.  A HUGE thank you to Lakes Area Printing for their fine work on this and all our projects!  We appreciate your partnership!