The concept behind the Blue Ribbon Food Shelf Initiative was to produce an evaluative tool that gives recognition to food shelves that are “raising the bar” and encourage others to increase their level of service. The evaluative tool focuses on two aspects relevant to food shelves. First, what level of service do you currently provide to your clients? Examples of evaluation criteria include: hours of operation, client choice, and accessibility. And secondly, what is happening at the food shelf to ensure that these services will continue to be offered in the future? Examples of evaluation include: financial management, administration, use of volunteers, board of directors involvement, and strategic planning.

These food shelves have met the necessary set standards by Hunger Solutions Minnesota, a state-wide hunger organization, to be considered a ‘Blue Ribbon Food Shelf’. This means that when donations are given, the community can trust that their donation is being used effectively and efficiently and also be confident that when someone uses the food shelf, they are being treated with dignity and respect.”

Hunger Solutions Minnesota’s Blue Ribbon Food Shelves 2008-2009

Bemidji Community Food Shelf – Bemidji
Cannon Falls Food Shelf – Cannon Falls
Catholic Charities-Emergency Services – St. Cloud
CEAP – Blaine
CEAP – Brooklyn Park
CHUM Food Shelf – Duluth
C.R.O.S.S. – Rogers
Dorothy Day Food Pantry – Moorhead
Falls Hunger Coalition – International Falls
Friends In Need – Cottage Grove
Fruit of the Vine – Duluth
Hawley Food Pantry – Hawley
Hibbing Food Shelf – Hibbing
Keystone Community Services (3 sites) – St. Paul
Manna Food Pantry Inc. – Worthington
McLeod Emergency Food Shelf – Glencoe
McLeod Emergency Food Shelf – Hutchinson
Milaca Area Pantry – Milaca
NACE Food Shelf – East Bethel
Neighborhood House – St. Paul
Neighbors, Inc. – South St. Paul
Peace Center, Inc. – New Prague
Pillager Food Shelf – Pillager
PRISM – Golden Valley
Rush City Food Shelf – Rush City
Sibley County Foodshare, Inc. – Gaylord
The Salvation Army-Central NEED Corps – Minneapolis
The Salvation Army-Eastside – St. Paul
The Salvation Army-Parkview – Minneapolis
The Salvation Army-St. Paul Citadel – St. Paul
The Salvation Army-Temple – Minneapolis
Union Gospel Mission Duluth – Duluth
VEAP – Bloomington
Winona Volunteer Services – Winona
Worthington Christian Church Food Shelf -Worthington
YWCA Cass Clay – Fargo, ND
Zumbrota Area Emergency Food Shelf – Zumbrota

Food Shelf is represented on the Hunger Solutions Minnesota Board and/or the Hunger Solutions Minnesota Food Shelf Advisory Committee.