Here in Peace: Vanessa's Story
As the final snowflakes of the season fall outside of Source MN’s Resource Center in South Minneapolis, spring and warmer weather will be a welcome sight. Source MN was heavily impacted by Operation Metro Surge, pivoting their operations and staying in touch with their community to meet their needs.
“There are a lot of recent immigrants in this neighborhood,” says Mike O’Connell, Director of Operations and Development of Source MN. “We offer English as a second language classes, and we host a healthy cooking class, along with our big community meal.”
Vanessa, a mother of three school-aged children, first heard of Source MN through their community meal service.
“One year and two months ago, I came here for the first time,” she says in Spanish through a translator. “It was just beautiful. There were all these people here and nobody had to pay. They could all be here in peace.”
Source MN is located in South Minneapolis, just a few blocks from Eat Street and the Minneapolis Institute of Art.
Vanessa is a stay-at-home mother, which also means that she is the main cook of the house. “Arroz con pollo. Papas fritas. Whatever kind of juice, especially cantaloupe. The kids like ground beef with spaghetti or anything with eggs. I love making arepas. Mantequilla makes everything better!”
She picks up groceries and more from Source MN’s food shelf, which helps keep food on the table for her and the other six people in her house. “I like the pasta. Tomatoes, Rice. Chicken. Meats. Potatoes. A lot of things.”
“For about 30% of our food recipients, this is where they get all of their food,” says Mike.
When Operation Metro Surge started, Mike noticed less people using their services. “Some of our regular food clients reached out via text to our staff saying ‘hey, we’re scared, any chance you can bring us food?’”
Vanessa was one of these neighbors that was afraid to leave her home. “It was ugly. From late November until [mid-March] I did not leave the house once. We lived in fear. I was afraid of being deported.”
Source MN pivoted their operations, making deliveries an option for everybody.
Vanessa is the main cook in her house, providing meals for her three school-aged children.
“There were texts back and forth asking if we needed food,” says Vanessa. “The driver would arrive and text saying that our food was here.”
While the effects of Operation Metro Surge continue to affect the Minnesota community, Vanessa feels more comfortable leaving her home. Two weeks ago, she went back to church for the first time in months, and today she is here to share her story and say thank you to those who kept her family fed.
“It was amazing that when we were scared to leave our home, we were still able to get food through [Source MN] and [Second Harvest Heartland],” she says. “I am very grateful.”