We’re always looking for ways to better serve the community—whether that’s strengthening our operations, expanding our resources, or making it easier for people to access the food and support they need. This season has brought several exciting updates to the Food Shelf that we’re excited to share.
Specialty & Global Foods section
We’re thrilled to announce the official launch of a new section in the Food Shelf: Specialty & Global Foods!
We created the Specialty & Global Foods section to better support clients by:
- Improving access to allergen-free products
- Offering more culturally relevant food options
- Helping ensure these higher-demand items are more consistently in stock
Our hope is that this section helps more clients regularly find foods that are meaningful to them and their families.
Does this mean all international or culturally relevant foods will now be in this section? The answer is no. You’ll still find culturally relevant foods throughout the food shelf, in alignment with our SuperShelf guidelines. Many foods can be culturally relevant depending on how they are prepared and used by households.
That said, since many of these items are not consistently available through food bank ordering systems, this dedicated space ensures that when they are available, more people have the opportunity to find and select them.
Weight Scales & PantrySaver system
We’ve taken an important step forward in our warehouse operations. New weight scales have been installed in the warehouse and food shelf, along with a monitor to support our new tracking system, PantrySaver.
These updates will help us more accurately measure and manage the food we distribute—improving efficiency and, most importantly, our impact in the community.
Food Truck & Van
Big things are happening in our fleet! We recently purchased a brand-new food truck (appropriately named Haulin’ Oats) and it’s a genuine game changer for our food program. Equipped with a refrigerated unit, it allows us to safely distribute temperature-sensitive items like milk and eggs. It also gives food rescue drivers the ability to transport frozen and refrigerated items from grocery stores without worrying about time or temperature. We’re so proud of this addition and what it means for the people we serve.
We’ve also welcomed a new van to our fleet, made possible through generous grant funding. This vehicle will help us move food more efficiently, extend our reach, and ensure more individuals and families can access what they need. Together, our new truck and van strengthen our ability to move food quickly, safely, and reliably throughout the community.
See It For Yourself!
We’re excited about these new additions—and even more excited to share them with the community.
Want to see them in action? Sign up for a monthly tour or volunteer with us to get a closer look at how the Food Shelf operates and how your support helps make this work possible every day.
Stay tuned for more updates, along with exciting equipment and storage improvements coming later this summer!
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