Wilke’s Marketplace surpasses 1,200 donation bags for food shelf

By Kaitlyn Kuehl-Berns | Times-Register

Wilke’s Marketplace in Elkader has surpassed 1,200 grocery bags purchased for donation to the Clayton County Food Shelf, with recent help from Elkader’s Cub Scout Pack 62.

“We had—and still do have—a box up front for donations to the food shelf,” said store manager Ray Delacruz. “In January 2025, a staff member suggested we put together and display the bags by the checkout to make it more convenient for shoppers to donate.”

Each bag costs between $10 and $15 and is assembled by Wilke’s staff. Isabella Schantz, a student from Central High School, also helps put together bags as part of her school work experience program. Her bags are marked with a sticker that reads “packed by Isabella.”

Each bag includes ingredients for meals such as spaghetti, goulash, chicken noodle soup, potato soup, pancake breakfasts, along with after-school snacks. Additional bags allow shoppers to donate health and beauty items, pet supplies or birthday-themed items.

In the first few months, about 100 bags were sold. Staff were initially unsure how long the project would last but were surprised as participation grew, encouraging partnerships and new ways to give.

Most recently, Cub Scout Pack 62 visited the store to help package and label the donation bags and assist at the front of the store. In one day, they helped sell 78 bags, pushing the total past 1,200.

Delacruz said staff have taken pride in the project.

“They feel good about doing it and get excited to see the numbers increasing,” he said.

The store also promotes the project on social media and uses drawings and promotions to build awareness.

The 1,000-bag milestone was surpassed with the help of Dr. Ken Zichal, who purchased 32 bags. As the customer who purchased the milestone bag, Zichal received a $100 gift certificate, which he immediately donated back to be used toward meat purchases for the food shelf.

Reflecting on the continued participation, Delacruz credited the community.

“It’s really the community—they’re the ones making it happen. Everyone’s getting involved,” he said, noting some customers purchase two or three bags at a time.

Individuals, churches and businesses have all contributed, inspiring new ways to give. Delacruz said Josh Pope, owner of the Pit Stop, challenged the grocery store to match his purchase, which it did. Churches have donated funds toward bag purchases, and one staff member donated 100 pounds of ground beef.

“It’s just amazing how it took off,” Delacruz said. “There’s just so many people helping. I wish I could mention everyone, but I can’t remember them all.”

Utoni Ruff, supervisor of the Clayton County Food Shelf, expressed gratitude for the effort.

“Ray and the whole staff at Wilke’s Marketplace are amazing—they’re doing it all to help the food shelf,” Ruff said. “The customers are keeping it going by continuing to buy the bags.”

The project has also brought increased attention to the food shelf.

“I always need all the publicity I can get so people don’t forget,” Ruff said. “I talked about it on KCTN. Ray and his staff were on KCRG and they do a great job sharing on Facebook. It’s an amazing project and it’s really helping us tremendously.”

The Clayton County Food Shelf, located in St. Olaf, serves 151 households, some of which include multiple families, across the county.

“We have always served the entire county and always will,” Ruff said.

Outside of the bag program, Wilke’s Marketplace has made significant contributions to the food shelf.

“They donate all kinds of stuff, and they have since the day they took over,” Ruff said.

Since summer 2024, Wilke’s has donated 26,373 pounds of food to the Clayton County Food Shelf, including 5,275 pounds from customers through the bag program.