Minnesota Prairie Roots

Writing and photography by Audrey Kletscher Helbling

New one-of-a-kind streetside food pantry opens on Cathedral grounds November 25, 2025

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This custom-built community food pantry recently opened outside the Guild House at the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour and is a replica of the historic cathedral. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

IN THIS SEASON of gratitude, the Faribault community now has one more reason to give thanks. And that’s for a new food pantry recently installed outside the Guild House at The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour.

The Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour has always been community-minded, including as home to the Community Cafe serving free meals every Tuesday. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

The pantry, housed in a custom-built replica of the historic cathedral, is a joint endeavor of Our Merciful Saviour and of the Community Cafe and Triumphant Life Assembly of God Church, both based in the Guild building along Northwest Sixth Street. The pantry will be dedicated during the 10 a.m. Sunday, November 30, worship service at the Cathedral.

The bell tower on the food pantry is shown in the foreground with the Cathedral bell tower rising in the background. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

When I first saw this approximately 3-by-5-foot structure rising some four feet, I just stood there looking, impressed by the details, the artistry, the craftsmanship, the likeness to the mammoth stone cathedral built between 1862-1869.

The front entry to the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour with its signature red doors. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)
The front of the cathedral in the custom-built mini version. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

The smaller version took the builder, Don Greeley of Stillwater, an estimated 200-300 hours (he didn’t tally time) over 1 ½ years to complete. The results are stunning, right down to the signature red doors, the stained glass windows, the limestone walls, the cedar shingles and the cross above the front door.

A side view of the food pantry shows the detailed construction, including cedar shingles, just like on the actual cathedral. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

CONNECTIONS & A CHALLENGE

The Faribault native, who grew up in this church where he served as an acolyte and where his parents’ cremated remains lie in the lower level columbarium, agreed to take on the project because, “Why not?” he said. He has a strong connection to the cathedral, is always up for a challenge and is an avid do-it-yourselfer. The retired Minneapolis Police Department crime prevention specialist likes designing, creating and building things. He’s been working on his house for 30 years. And he’d already built a food pantry for his church in Stillwater, Ascension Episcopal.

The new food pantry, built by Don Greeley and donated by he and his wife, Emily, sits outside the Sixth Street entry to the Guild House and cathedral. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

It was that church replica, seen by the Cathedral’s the Rev. James Zotalis, that got Don involved. Zotalis mentioned the mini Stillwater church to parishioner Candy Greeley, who then informed him that her brother built it. One thing led to another and the food pantry project was underway. Candy provided measurements, which Don used as guides along with photos. He started with the church doors, then scaled his model around those, admitting that he also “winged it.”

“I love it,” his clearly proud sister said. “I could not believe what came out of his head.”

A back and side view of the pantry looking toward Second Avenue and Central Park. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

CAREFUL, PLANNED CONSTRUCTION

In talking with Don, I realized just how much thought, time and effort he invested in planning and constructing this 80 to 100-pound cathedral replica to withstand a Minnesota winter. He learned from the Stillwater project that he needed to improve weatherproofing. To that end, Greeley used treated plywood for the walls, which he then painted with four to five layers of paint mixed with sand. He used an electric saw to cut lines into the walls to resemble stone. Epoxy adds another layer of protection.

The bell tower is crafted from plastic. Sheets of layered heavy black plastic under the entire structure add more waterproofing. And the handcrafted cedar shingles are protected by an oil-based varnish. Don did everything he could to prevent rotting. The church sits on a wrought iron base crafted by Myron Hanson of Eagan, who previously did wrought iron signage for the Guild House exterior.

A recent look at items inside the food pantry. A message on an exterior door reads: “TAKE WHAT YOU NEED. LEAVE WHAT YOU CAN. BE BLESSED.” (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

FROM TABLE TO TABLE

There’s one more aspect of this food pantry project that I find compelling. Don, without a heated workshop to build the mini cathedral, did about half the work inside, in the dining room of the Stillwater home he shares with wife Emily. The church sat on a work stand. And sometimes on the dining room table.

A list of items to place in the food pantry is listed on a door. Because of freezing issues due to weather, there are winter restrictions such as no cans or glass jars. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

This project has come full circle. Now those in need can put food on their tables, find personal care items and much more in this mini streetside cathedral partially crafted atop a table. What’s inside the pantry varies, depending on donations. It supplements already existing food shelves and services in the community. But the need is great and growing.

Words on the exterior of the massive cathedral express gratitude for the bell tower and also honor Bishop Henry Whipple. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo November 2025)

In this season of thanksgiving, I feel gratitude for this new food pantry in Faribault, for the talents and generosity of Don Greeley and for the Cathedral of Our Merciful Saviour, the Community Cafe and Triumphant Life Church. I expect Bishop Henry Whipple, who long ago led this mission-minded congregation in service to others, would be pleased with the Cathedral’s ongoing community outreach. Says Candy Greeley of the newly-placed food pantry, “It’s getting used.” And that is enough to understand its value in our community.

FYI: Additional food resources in Faribault include St. Vincent de Paul Society, two blocks from the cathedral food pantry; the Community Action Center, also in Northfield; and local churches.

© Copyright 2025 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

He’s one of the good ones… August 24, 2023

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Outside Pawn Minnesota, a pirate mannequin standing next to a generator generates interest in a block party. (Minnesota Prairie Roots copyrighted photo July 2023)

PIRATES WERE, AND ARE, by profession plunderers, thieves who attack and rob ships at sea. Even though violent criminals, they have often been romanticized. We’re fascinated by the lore of these daring marauders while simultaneously frightened.

But at least one pirate, spotted recently in historic downtown Faribault far far from any sea, was on the good side of the law. Admittedly he was not real, but rather a well-dressed mannequin wearing an eye patch and sporting a hook hand. On his realistic-appearing right hand, the pirate wore bejeweled gold rings upon his thick fingers.

And he held a sign promoting a Customer Appreciation Block Party from 11 am – 5 pm Saturday, August 26, at Pawn Minnesota, 230 Central Avenue. The party includes free food while supplies last and music by Nacho Y Su Herencia Musical.

A block party in itself is not unusual as a way to celebrate and market a business. But a pirate used as a promotional tool is, well, interesting. It achieved its purpose by catching my eye, enough for me to pause, photograph and feature.

This pirate, unlike real pirates, aims to serve a greater good via Saturday’s block party. Attendees are encouraged to bring cash and canned food donations for the local St. Vincent de Paul Food Shelf. St. Vincent, according to its website, provides “a wide variety of food and grocery items to help out our brothers and sisters in need. Our goal is to be a reliable source of free food that can help nourish those we assist.”

There are income guidelines to qualify for assistance.

Beyond food, the Faribault nonprofit provides household items, clothing, shoes, bedding and kitchenware to those in need. With ever-rising prices, the need remains high. I’m thankful to live in a caring community with places like St. Vincent, the Community Action Center, church food pantries and more. Free dinners are also available every Tuesday at the Community Cafe, housed in the Cathedral of Our Merciful Savior.

And for the pirate holding that block party sign while standing next to a portable generator, I have some kind words. I now believe pirates can change their ways. And generate goodness.

© Copyright 2023 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

Kids helping kids celebrate on the prairie & more January 29, 2014

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 6:00 AM
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A CANDLE-TOPPED CAKE and a small toy may not seem like much to celebrate a birthday.

But to a child in need, both mean a great deal.

The birthday cake booklet from my childhood that Bernie found on eBay.

The booklet from which my siblings and I chose our birthday cake designs.

I understand. Growing up in a poor farm family on the southwestern Minnesota prairie, I did not receive gifts from my parents on my birthday. They had no money for such extras. Rather, my mom pulled out her 1959 General Foods Corporation’s Baker’s Coconut Animal Cut-Up Cake booklet so I could choose a design for my birthday cake.

My second birthday and the clown cake my mom made for me.

Me with the clown cake my mom made for my second birthday.

With those birthday memories on my mind, I was pleased to read Tuesday of a community service project undertaken by the Class of 2019 at Westbrook-Walnut Grove Public Schools, 45 minutes to the south of my hometown of Vesta.

Students are assembling birthday bags for Mary and Martha’s Pantry, a Westbrook-based food shelf, according to information in the January 28 issue of the Westbrook/Walnut Grove Charger Report on the school website.

IRRESISTIBLE CHOCOLATE CRAZY CAKE!

Birthday gift bags will include cake mixes. Minnesota Prairie Roots file photo.

The gift bags will include a cake mix, frosting, candles, a Happy Birthday banner and a small toy. How sweet is that? I love to learn about kids doing good.

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SOME 170 MILES to the north and east in the Twin Cities metro, Eagan-based Cheerful Givers has provided birthday gift bags to 700,000-plus children during the past 20 years.

The non-profit’s mission is to “provide toy-filled gift bags to food shelves and shelters so that parents living in poverty can give their child a birthday gift. We believe this simple gesture boosts self-esteem, enhances self-worth, and strengthens bonds in families.”

And might I add, these bags filled with 10 items like books, plush toys, puzzles, stickers and more, simply make a child happy.

Two months from today, on Saturday, March 29, Cheerful Givers is celebrating its 20th birthday with “The Great Minnesota Birthday Party” in the Sear’s Court at the Mall of America. The goal of the 1 – 3 p.m. event is to raise $20,0000 and “to spread awareness of the need for all kids to be recognized with a gift on their birthday.”

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Back on the prairie, far from the big city, teens at Westbrook-Walnut Grove Public Schools aren’t planning a fundraiser for the Mary and Martha’s Pantry birthday bags. Rather, they are dipping in to their own funds (or those of their parents and others) to purchase gift bag items. And in the process, they are learning, in my opinion, that “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”

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FYI: To learn more about the W-WG school project, click here and see #13 in the Charger report.

To learn more about Eagan-based Cheerful Givers, click here.

© Copyright 2014 Audrey Kletscher Helbling

 

The generous gift of a St. Paul woman to a rural Minnesota food shelf January 6, 2012

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 1:38 PM
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TODAY I’M TREATING YOU to a gem of a story published yesterday in a weekly community newspaper, The Gaylord Hub.

It’s an inspiring and uplifting story of a St. Paul woman who purposely sought out a rural food shelf as the recipient of a Christmas gift. And a mighty generous one from someone with apparently no connection to Gaylord, a southern Minnesota Sibley County seat town of around 2,300.

Hub officer manager and bookkeeper Elizabeth Reishus shares the tale of generosity in her January 5 “The Word From High Avenue” column as shared with her by Yvonne O’Brien of Sibley County Food Share, Inc.

Writes Reishus:

A woman from St. Paul had called Second Harvest food bank to ask for a list of rural food shelves. Second Harvest was not able to give her that information, but did give her O’Brien’s phone number.

The woman then called O’Brien and asked questions about the food shelf. What percent of families served were minorities? Is the need higher in the summer? What kinds of resources does your food shelf have to rely on for donations?

O’Brien explained that about 40 percent of clients at the food shelf are people of a minority. The need for help increases in the summer when seasonal workers arrive to work at area farms and other agriculture-related jobs. She also explained that unlike bigger towns and cities, we do not have the big chain stores such as Wal-Mart, Target, Cub or Cash Wise that donate food. The Sibley County Food Shelf is maintained through the generosity of area people and some grant money, O’Brien explained.

The St. Paul woman said she would like to send a donation to the food shelf. O’Brien gave the woman the mailing address for donations and expected to receive a check for about $50. She was pleasantly surprised to find that the donation check was for 10 times that amount. The generous mystery woman gave $500 to the Sibley County Food Shelf.

How’s that for Minnesota Nice and for thinking beyond the metro?

Consider the effort this mystery woman took to find just the right place for her $500 donation. What motivated her to seek out a rural food shelf, to ask those specific questions about minorities, to give that much money to a single food shelf?

I’d never really thought, prior to reading Reishus’ column, how small-town food banks typically don’t receive food donations from chain stores, relying instead primarily on the generosity of locals.

So thank you to that woman from St. Paul for thinking beyond the metro area of the need in rural Minnesota and for blessing Sibley County Food Share with $500.

She offers us much food for thought.

FOR MORE INFORMATION about Sibley County Food Share, click here.

 

Some fine examples of giving in rural Minnesota April 5, 2011

Filed under: Uncategorized — Audrey Kletscher Helbling @ 7:03 AM
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WHEN I READ through the March 31 edition of The Gaylord Hub, a rural Minnesota weekly newspaper where I worked from 1978 – 1980, something caught my eye.

The 10-page paper was packed with stories about community members helping one another. The quantity of articles impressed me enough to write this post, to emphasize to you that even during these challenging times, Minnesotans are reaching out to one another.

These are stories we need to read among the hard news stories of floods and earthquakes, wars and suicide bombers, rising gas prices and falling property values, the news that causes us to ask, “What is this world coming to?”

The articles I read reaffirm that among all the bad in the world, plenty of good still exists. And often, young people are leading the way to assist those in need.

In Gaylord, the Sibley East Junior High Student Council recently raised $600 for the Sibley County Food Shelf. Likewise, the Gaylord Cub Scouts, Boy Scouts, leaders and parents collected 1,032 pounds of food and $70.65 for the county food shelf in a one-day drive.

Students from Sibley East Elementary Schools in Gaylord and Arlington raised $10,431.32 in the Pennies for Patients fundraiser for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, placing in the top 25 among 473 participating schools. How’s that for a small school (between 200 – 499 students) in rural Minnesota?

The adults in the Gaylord area aren’t sitting idly by watching the younger generation pursue charitable giving.

The winner in a local drawing chose Sibley County Food Share, Inc., as the recipient of a $2,500 donation from the Monsanto Fund.

Sertomans, at their weekly meeting, discussed plans for a benefit to help the Lindemann family as their daughter, Paisley, battles cancer.

The newspaper also published a story about an education memorial fund established for Kaylee and Gavin, the young children of Michael Struck, a Minnesota Department of Transportation worker who died after his backhoe was swept away recently in flood waters.

And then, in a front page article, readers learned that $63,000 in donations have been made to Gaylord’s new aquatic center. Donations will be used to buy amenities (play features) for the pool. All 69 donors are listed in an ad published on page 5.

This is just an observation I’ve made over the years—and I think it’s an accurate one—but residents of small towns are often willing to open their pocketbooks to projects that in larger cities would be funded with taxpayer dollars. Why? I think community pride and ownership and the deep personal connections small town residents have to one another prompt such generosity.

Finally, the last philanthropic piece of news was buried deep in a front page article titled “Fire Department receives FEMA grant.” After explaining that the local department has received a nearly $60,000 grant to purchase firefighting equipment, the reporter writes about the annual firemen’s banquet.

And that is where I found this little gem: “Also recognized for their years of service was the ‘kitchen crew’ which helps serve a highly-touted ham dinner. Jim Huffman and Don Pinske have each helped serve the banquet meal for more than 60 years.”

Sixty years. Now that’s dedication and an outstanding example of selfless giving back to the community.

© Copyright 2011 Audrey Kletscher Helbling