BOUNTIFUL BASKET FOOD SHELF OF EASTERN CARVER COUNTY

FOOD ASSISTANCE: BOUNTIFUL BASKET OPERATES TWO BRICK-AND-MORTAR FOOD SHELF LOCATIONSONE IN CHASKA AND ONE IN COLOGNE. BOUNTIFUL BASKET WAS FOUNDED TO SERVE THE EASTERN CARVER COUNTY COMMUNITIES OF CHANHASSEN, CHASKA, CARVER, AND VICTORIA. TWO YEARS AGO, WE EXPANDED OUR REACH BY OPENING A SECOND LOCATION IN COLOGNE TO BETTER SERVE RESIDENTS IN THE MORE RURAL AREAS OF WESTERN CARVER COUNTY. WHILE THESE COMMUNITIES REPRESENT OUR TRADITIONAL SERVICE AREA AND THE MAJORITY OF THE INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WE SERVE, OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO ANYONE IN NEED OF FOOD ASSISTANCE, REGARDLESS OF WHERE THEY LIVE.THE CHASKA FOOD SHELF IS OPEN FIVE DAYS A WEEK, IN ADDITION TO THE FIRST AND THIRD SATURDAYS OF EACH MONTH, AND THE COLOGNE FOOD SHELF IS OPEN THREE DAYS A WEEK. THIS YEAR SAW A CONTINUED INCREASE IN DEMAND FOR SERVICES. WE DISTRIBUTED MORE THAN 1,500,000 POUNDS OF FOOD AND SERVED APPROXIMATELY 68,000 INDIVIDUALS (DUPLICATED), REPRESENTING AN 18% INCREASE COMPARED TO 2023-2024. APPROXIMATELY 33% OF THOSE SERVED WERE CHILDREN, AND 8% WERE SENIOR CITIZENS.OUR FOOD SHELF OPERATES USING A CHOICE MODEL AND IS SUPERSHELF CERTIFIED, PLACING A STRONG FOCUS ON NUTRITION WHILE OFFERING A WELCOMING AND DIGNIFIED EXPERIENCE. INDIVIDUALS MAKE APPOINTMENTS AND CHOOSE FROM A WIDE VARIETY OF FOODS THAT MEET THEIR DIETARY, CULINARY, AND CULTURAL NEEDS. FOOD THAT IS CONSISTENTLY AVAILABLE INCLUDES FRESH AND SHELF-STABLE PRODUCE, DAIRY, PROTEINS, AND GRAINS. ON AVERAGE, FAMILIES RECEIVE APPROXIMATELY 2025 POUNDS OF FOOD PER INDIVIDUAL. SHOPPERS MAY VISIT UP TO TWO TIMES PER MONTH, AND EMERGENCY FOOD BAGS ARE AVAILABLE IF ADDITIONAL FOOD IS NEEDED BETWEEN VISITS.THE SUPERSHELF PROGRAM IS GROUNDED IN THE VALUES OF GOOD FOOD, RESPECT FOR ALL, AND EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES. WE RECEIVED OUR SUPERSHELF CERTIFICATION THREE YEARS AGO AND CONTINUE TO FOLLOW ITS SIX-STEP METHODOLOGY, WHICH IS BASED ON BEHAVIORAL ECONOMICS PRINCIPLES. AS PART OF THIS WORK, WE HAVE REORGANIZED OUR SPACE AND RECEPTION AREA, PAINTED THE GROCERY AREA IN BRIGHT AND WELCOMING COLORS, PURCHASED NEW FREEZERS, REFRESHED SHELVING, AND CREATED AN ATTRACTIVE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE DISPLAY. THESE IMPROVEMENTS HAVE HELPED MAKE OUR SERVICES MORE CLIENT-CENTERED WHILE PROVIDING A DIGNIFIED, GROCERY STORE LIKE ENVIRONMENT.IN ADDITION TO OUR BRICK-AND-MORTAR FOOD SHELVES, BOUNTIFUL BASKET OPERATES A FOOD PANTRY AT THE WEST CREEK APARTMENTS, WHICH HOUSE 19 FORMERLY HOMELESS YOUTH. WE ALSO DELIVER FOOD TO SENIOR APARTMENT BUILDINGS, SUPPORT UNHOUSED INDIVIDUALS CURRENTLY LIVING IN LOCAL MOTELS, AND PROVIDE SCHOOL SNACKS TO ALL SCHOOLS IN EASTERN CARVER COUNTY, ALONG WITH A RANGE OF OTHER OUTREACH AND FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO MEET EVOLVING COMMUNITY NEEDS.