What’s New With the HSM Blue Ribbon Food Shelf Tool?

A little more than two months after the final tool was presented at the 2007 Minnesota Hunger Partners Conference in Hinckley, many of you have had questions and some have already submitted their tool for review. Questions have ranged from what is a strategic plan to what if I’m scheduled to participate in a ServSafe class after the due date for the HSM Blue Ribbon Food Shelf Tool? Every question is a good one and here are some tips to consider as you complete the tool:

• Where do I begin??
  Food shelf coordinators have shared that the easiest way to get started is to go through the tool and check the points that you already have in place. Then, count the points you’ve checked and see what you need to reach at least the minimum of 80 points. (Hopefully, you’ll want to go above and beyond the 80 point minimum!) Then go through each section and take a look at the points you are missing and decide from there where you’d like to invest your time and resources in to make change.

• Delegate the sections.
  We know how overwhelming the task may seem. Ask each of your board members and/or volunteers to complete a section. Completion of the tool won’t seem so daunting if you have more than one person working on it. This is also a great way to get your board members more involved.

• Keep it simple.
  Making your responses short and to the point will help keep you focused. Remember, you’ll be contacted if any clarification is necessary.

• Be proud of yourself!
  Know that when your food shelf is acknowledged as a Hunger Solutions Minnesota Blue Ribbon Food Shelf, you will be part of very special group of Minnesota food shelves that are on the cutting edge of service delivery and you will receive all of the recognition that you deserve because of it.

Please contact Cathy Patterson with any questions at cpatterson@hungersolutions.org or 651-789-9844/800-782-6372.