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Community Helps North Minneapolis Food Shelf

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- The Camden Promise Food Shelf in north Minneapolis is struggling for food to fill their shelves after volunteers said one of their own stole nearly 1,500 pounds of food.

On Friday, a volunteer from the Camden Promise Food Shelf was helping transport food to Gethsemane Lutheran Church. Instead of dropping it off at the proper location, other volunteers say he drove off with it.

The food was going to feed nearly 200 families a few days before Christmas. Parish Minister Roxi Mork said many families with children were counting on that food.

"There are positive things that have come out because of this," said Mork. "The community is rallying behind everything and people they are coming out to help people they don't even know."

Since the story broke, the church's phone has been ringing off the hook.

"We got a call that said 'I can drop off two cans of tomato soup'. We got a call that said 'I can't donate anything, but I will pray'," said Mork. "We have a little girl who's going to go door-to-door and collect food in her neighborhood."

Also Cub Foods is stepping in to help. A Cub Foods representative tweeted Tuesday afternoon "Cub Foods will replenish all 1,500 lbs of food stolen from the Camden Promise Food Shelf, with an additional 200 fresh hams for the holiday."

Mork said a truck full of food is expected to arrive around 1 p.m. Wednesday.

"It's Christmas and it's a miracle," said Mork.

Volunteers know who the person is, but police have made no arrests. Minneapolis police said the case has been turned over to the city attorney.

A representative for the police department said the crime is considered a misdemeanor because the 1,500 lbs of food is valued at $300.

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