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
The (Data) Party’s Over … And the work begins:
Hunger relief sector shares perspectives on 2022 Minnesota Food Shelf Survey For those working in the hunger relief sector, an invitation to a data party might have been the most anticipated of the last year. Taking part in one of four virtual gatherings or data...
Red Wing Community Collaborates on Impactful Solutions to Food Insecurity
In August 2021, the Red Wing Area Food Shelf in Goodhue County, together with the surrounding community, began a new chapter toward creating sustainable solutions to food insecurity in the area. First and foremost, that meant changing their current curbside pickup...
Food Bank vs. Food Shelf
It would be easy to assume that food shelves (often known as food pantries outside of Minnesota) and food banks are one and the same, but they are actually two different (though connected) operations. There are an estimated 375 food shelves in Minnesota. These food...