Bountiful Basket Food Shelf becomes SuperShelf certified transforming food distribution for those facing food insecurity.
Join us on Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1 PM – 3 PM, for our Open House Celebration at our location in Chaska.
Bountiful Basket Food Shelf in Chaska, MN has successfully transformed into an official SuperShelf. The SuperShelf program assists food shelves in transforming how they work with clients– creating welcoming environments for their communities to access appealing, healthy food. SuperShelf was started in 2012 and was developed by four founding partners: HealthPartners, Valley Outreach, The Food Group and the University of Minnesota (U of M) Extension and Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. The program is grounded in values including good food, respect for all and evidence-based practices.
We began their journey toward SuperShelf certification in 2022 and are following their six-step methodology based on behavior economic principles. We reorganized our space and reception area, painted the grocery area in bright and welcoming colors, purchased new freezers, painted shelving and offer a more expanded and attractive fruit and vegetable area. These changes help us to be more client-centered and offer easy access to healthy, culturally appropriate foods while providing a dignified experience in a grocery-store like environment.
Here are a few more of the updates we made to encourage our clients to choose healthier food and accommodate both specific dietary and cultural food preferences:
Reorganized food categories. New categories of food such as grains, protein, fruits and vegetables, dairy and deli, snacks and beverages encourage healthier choices.
- New multi-lingual signage. New signage that include four languages: English, Spanish, Russian and Somali.
- Fresh produce front and center. Fresh produce displayed upfront in new produce carts.
- Increased access to variety of healthy, culturally appropriate food. Food choices more closely match the growing diversity of our clientele and their family’s needs.
By participating in this program, we not only have the potential of influencing and creating a healthier environment in our own local community, we also become one of many SuperShelf programs throughout the state. Together, we can create an even greater system change and dignified response to fighting food insecurity.
COME JOIN our SuperShelf Open House Celebration on Sunday, May 21, 2023 from 1 pm – 3 pm. All are welcome. We will have beverages, snacks, raffle prizes and more for the entire surrounding communities. Bring your family and friends to help us celebrate and learn how Bountiful Basket is working hard to support food insecurity.
Thank you to Foundation for Essential Needs (FFEN) & the U of M Extension Services for supporting this project and to our many volunteers who helped up transform our food shelf. Bountiful Basket received a grant from both Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Foundation and Carver County SHIP to help fund the transformation. We are very excited to help our clients make healthier food choices and offer a welcoming and dignified experience for our communities.