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.

Two FFEN volunteers

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.

Map of Minnesota showing where FFEN has worked

FFEN’s impact

Our Reach

200+

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

Meet Christine Page, Community Engagement Manager

Meet Christine Page, Community Engagement Manager

Christine Page, Community Engagement Manager, joined the FFEN team in 2022 with an extensive background in a range of non-profit and volunteer-based work. Most notably, her focus was on corporate social responsibility in her role as the Community Service Manager for...

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Farewell Quentin West, Program Specialist

Farewell Quentin West, Program Specialist

Quentin West, MPH, FFEN’s Program Specialist for the last year, has accepted a new position with Ramsey County and his last day at FFEN will be Monday, August 28th.  As is often the case in transitions like this, we are excited for Quentin's new opportunity and also...

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FFEN Essentials: Food Shelf Leader Cohort

FFEN Essentials: Food Shelf Leader Cohort

Food shelf leaders often wear multiple hats and enter their positions with limited previous experience in the hunger relief sector.  On a daily basis, they are responding to the constant demands of running a food shelf, leaving little time for planning, assessing...

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