Anika Rychner of Community Action Center in Northfield and Faribault has led five food shelf transformations. She said no matter the community, no matter the scope, she keeps one thing at the center.
“It’s easier when you’re centering the voice of participants … (those voices) provide a roadmap for any food shelf” said Rychner, the interim executive director.
One tool she uses is the Minnesota Food Shelf Survey. In 2025, the survey captured the voices of nearly 10,000 food shelf shoppers from communities small and large. FFEN is a lead implementor of the survey, working in partnership with University of Minnesota Extension, The Food Group, SuperShelf and The Department of Children, Youth & Families.
Rychner relies on the survey results to guide decisions and prioritize her budget based on what shoppers say they need most.
“You can really stretch your dollar to be able to prioritize those healthy things – fresh fruit, vegetables, dairy and meat,” she said.
For Rychner, the survey is also a tool for trauma-responsive care.
“A lot of the people coming to food shelves have experienced a disproportionate amount of trauma, if they don’t have access to healthy foods it contributes to physical health as well as mental health.”
Saundra Holden, Operations Director at Community Emergency Services, also used the survey to shape a major remodel. Insights from shoppers led to renaming the site the Neighborhood Food Market.
When local survey results showed shoppers struggled to visit during open hours and needed more frequent access, Holden’s team expanded evening hours and increased visits from once to twice per month. They used survey data to secure grant funding to support the changes.
To go further, the site launched a food locker program, allowing shoppers to order groceries online, receive an access code and pick up food 24 hours a day. Survey data supported grant applications to fund the lockers. The program began with 15 lockers and expanded to 30 based on demand. Holden also used the findings to secure funding for more refrigeration to better display produce and proteins at the front of the market.
Saundra Holden, Operations Director at Community Emergency Services
Anika Rychner of Community Action Center in Northfield and Faribault
