By Elizabeth Fechter
Murphy News Service
Mobile food shelves are becoming more popular throughout Minnesota, allowing individuals who face transportation barriers a new way to receive food support.
In 2013, 42,166 people were served through mobile food support in Minnesota, according to Peter Woitock, Community Organizer for Hunger Solutions Minnesota.
Hunger Solutions Minnesota is a third-party organization that focuses on working with groups throughout the state that want to enter the mobile food shelf scene, according to Woitock.
“We help to identify those needs and give them the tools to start their own program,” said Woitock. “We’re a one-stop-shop to help them get started on their own mobile food shelf program and get expanded.”
Successful mobile food shelf organizations such as The Open Door and East Side Neighborhood Services (East Side) are using refrigerated vans filled with fresh and packaged goods to transport food to those who are not able to visit a food shelf on their own.
Both organizations focus on allowing their clients to shop for their groceries, rather than pre-packaging their food for them.
“It is much more dignified,” Lisa Horn, executive director at The Open Door, formerly known as The Eagan and Lakeville Resource Center, said. “It also dramatically reduces food waste.”
The Open Door started The Mobile Pantry in 2012. The van’s shelves are lined with bins that keep meats, fruits, vegetables and dairy products at the appropriate temperature. This allows clients to shop from the shelves, such as at a regular grocery store.
The Mobile Pantry currently visits five sites throughout Dakota County. The organization follows a healthy food policy, which means 70 percent of their inventory is fresh and perishable.
Similar to The Open Door, East Side is bringing food support to those who are not able to make it to food shelves on their own, focusing on elders and handicapped citizens living in high-rises.
East Side has been providing services through their High Rise Mobile Food Shelf since 2012. It visits 35 different locations, including Yorktown Continental and South Haven Apartments in Edina, and has served over 5,795 un-duplicated individuals.
The program allows clients to shop from a room set up by volunteers, according to Greg Ritter, Senior Development Director for the organization. The shorter distance also makes it easier for clients to transport their grocery bags home.
“It’s more like a super market,” Ritter said. “They fill their bags, but what they put in is up their particular diet or needs.”
Large suppliers, such as Cub Foods and Whole Foods, and some smaller suppliers, such as Chipotle, provide support to help East Side offer a wide variety of foods.
“Some of it we buy, and much of it is donated,” Ritter said.
Reporter Elizabeth Fechter is studying journalism at the University of Minnesota.