Customers and visitors to the Steele County Food Shelf will notice some changes when they stop in beginning January 2. The walls and shelves have all been repainted in bright colors..

The Steele County Food Shelf will become one of the first "Super Shelf"  food shelves in Minnesota. The food shelf applied for a grant last fall from the University of Minnesota but lost out to 8 shelves in the metro. The Food Shelf decided to go ahead and become a Super Shelf anyway. It is a transition where the food shelf is shifting to a more client based organization which promotes and supports individual choice. Clients will have more freedom in their choices when selecting food. Currently clients are given a list and told for example you can choose this much pasta or maybe choose this much cereal. Starting January 2 things will listed in categories such as grains and proteins.Fruits and vegetables will be the first things when walking in, in hopes that clients will fill up on the more healthier foods first. Basically food will be grouped into a food group creating the potential for more variety for the client when selecting nutritious food. There are only 3 other Super Shelf food shelves in Minnesota so Steele County will be one of the first ones to make the change.

Re-registration starts for everyone in January, 2019. It has been a busy Christmas and in fact a busy year. In fact the year has been so busy it's sort of like adding an extra month to the year. Another 20 parties signed up around Christmas for assistance at the food shelf.

If you'd like to contribute food to the food shelf, canned meats, salad dressings and pasta are always high on the want list at the Steele County Food Shelf.

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