Predictable, healthy food and welcoming experiences for all food shelf shoppers
A strength-based approach to efficient and effective hunger relief operations. Helping food shelves do better so that food insecure Minnesotans can do better.
With more than 375 food shelves serving over 3 million Minnesotans, our state’s hunger relief system is vast, complex and ever-changing. FFEN understands the complexities and challenges faced by food shelves and other hunger relief organizations. Reshaping the hunger relief sector is at the core of FFEN’s work. And while there is no one-size-fits-all approach, we have invested in developing tailored services and solutions to meet the unique needs of food shelves and the communities they serve. Learn more about how FFEN is supporting food shelves across Minnesota.
Food Shelf Services
Managing a food shelf is an art and science. We support food shelves to implement the most current best practices, through no-cost consultation and professional development opportunities.
Volunteer
FFEN engages skilled volunteers who share their expertise with the hunger relief sector, leveraging new solutions, skills, and additional capacity to improve local food access.
Donate
When you support FFEN, the impact you provide is exponentially greater than the dollar amount you give. Your gift is an investment in local communities and improved food access into the future.
FFEN’s impact
Our Reach
196
Food shelf connections (since 2013)
787,792
Food shelf shoppers reached (estimated annually)
61
Counties supported across Minnesota
$0.91
Amount of each dollar going to programs
Read the Latest News From FFEN
McLeod Food Shelf Grows Into New Space
In June 2021, FFEN was enlisted to help meet the challenges faced by the McLeod Food Shelf’s Glencoe location (one of two locations and a mobile unit) as they outgrew their space. Once the food shelf secured the new space for purchase, FFEN was tasked with consulting...
LAFS Optimizes a New Space
Lonsdale Area Food Shelf (LAFS) is a volunteer-run organization serving the Lonsdale, Veseli and Webster communities in southeastern Minnesota by providing food, holiday meals and gifts, and backpacks and school supplies to those experiencing a time of need. In 2014,...
Evolution of Rock County Food Shelf
Rock County Food Shelf in Luverne, Minnesota has continued to evolve to meet community needs since its founding. Originally created as a cupboard in 1983, it was expanded into a room in a church in 1998, and then became its own 501(c)3 nonprofit in 2015. In 2021, they...