Growing up in Greenwald, John Dockendorf attended St. John’s-St. Andrew’s Catholic School, an experience that helped shape his lifelong appreciation for Catholic education. He and his wife, Kristy, later shared that commitment with their own family, sending all four of their children, now in their 20s, to SJSA as well.
So, when they realized the school needed help with fundraising, they had an idea: sweet corn.
Yes, sweet corn. Sell locally grown, freshly picked sweet corn and donate the proceeds to the school.
The Dockendorfs, who own Greenwald Elevator, a feed, seed and animal nutrition business serving central Minnesota, saw the effort as a natural extension of their commitment to Catholic education.
What started six years ago as a simple idea has grown into a successful way for the couple to give back to a school that has been an important part of their family’s life.
The corn is available at the Greenwald Elevator for community members to purchase for $7/dozen. It is also available during the town’s annual Barley Days celebration.
“Every year we plant a little bit more because of the demand,” John said.
Every morning John picks about 20 dozen ears of corn, sometimes students help and other times it’s an employee of the elevator. Often, they get orders for more and go out a second time during the day.
“It means more to us than I can really put into words,” said Hope Klein, the school’s principal. “If it weren’t for the support of our community, SJSA would not be where it is today. We are a small school, and the generosity of people like John and so many others in our surrounding communities truly helps carry our school day in and day out.”
The funds raised go directly toward supporting SJSA and help them continue providing a quality, faith-filled education for the school’s 33 students, Klein said.
For the Dockendorfs, who are members of St. Mary Parish in nearby Melrose, supporting SJSA is about ensuring future generations have access to the same faith-filled education and close-knit community that shaped their family.
“It’s just been a huge priority of ours,” Kristy said. “We feel really strongly about kids growing up with their faith and finding that it’s important in their life and having that to fall back on.”
The Dockendorfs also hold a salt sale in the fall to help support St. John’s-St. Andrew’s School.
“Fundraisers like this are about more than the money raised,” Klein said. “They are a reminder to our students and families that there is an entire community behind them. We are so grateful to John and the Greenwald Elevator, as well as everyone who purchases sweet corn and supports our school. Every contribution, big or small, makes a difference and helps us continue our mission of providing a strong, faith-filled education right here in our community.”