General Organization FAQ’s
How does the Emergency Foodshelf Network (EFN) reduce hunger?
EFN provides literally millions of pounds of food each year to local and out-state Minnesota hunger relief programs. Think of us as the “nonprofit grocery depot” for area foodshelves, on-site meal programs, subsidized housing facilities, food distribution sites, and other programs that directly work with/provide food to those who face hunger. Over 95% of the nonperishable, perishable, and prepared foods that EFN provides its member programs is certified as quality and nutritious and reflects our aim to help provide a well-balanced diet to those in need.
Your organization’s tagline is “Minnesota’s Free Food Bank.” Are there other food banks in Minnesota that charge a fee in order to receive food to feed hungry people?
Yes. Most food banks throughout the nation charge various fees (of up to $0.17/pound) to hunger relief agencies to access food that is donated by the community at large. The Emergency Foodshelf Network (EFN) has a different operating philosophy than other food banks when it comes to collecting, warehousing, and distributing community food to its member foodshelves: We never charge a fee for donated product. In our 30 years of service to the community, “free means free” when it comes to hunger relief organizations receiving your donation.
What are EFN’s guiding principles?
For over 30 years, EFN’s service to the Minnesota community has been guided by three main principles: Quality, Value, and Efficiency.
Our commitment to Quality begins with our desire to “put those facing hunger first.” We want people to feel positive about their experience when they visit a hunger relief program in our network. We certify that 95% of the food we provide to our network is quality and nutritious because we believe that food should be a “hand-up” and not just a “hand-out.”
Value is what being a member of EFN is all about! We provide between $5-10 million in benefits and savings to our member agencies annually and it starts with our guarantee that food donated by the community will always be available to them for free/no cost.
Efficiency means that we are relentless in our pursuit to make our programs and operations as effective as possible and minimize any cost burden for our members. By spending 92 cents of every dollar we raise directly on our programs, we show that hungry people really do come first here at EFN.
How does EFN collect and distribute millions of pounds of food to its network of hunger relief agencies without charging them a fee?
It’s very simple – we choose to absorb the very real costs of collecting and distributing food to ensure that foodshelves able to maximize the impact of their limited dollars. We strongly believe that because agencies have such limited resources, we will do everything possible to save them time and money. While it costs EFN to perform such services, we see it as our role to coordinate opportunities, cost savings, and other efficiencies so that agencies have more time and money to thoroughly serve their clients.
Is EFN part of America’s Second Harvest?
EFN is independent of the Second Harvest chain of food banks. This independence creates opportunities for us to distribute community food donations for free to agencies. Additionally, EFN is not limited to a geographical service boundary so are able to serve the hunger relief community statewide.
Is the Emergency Foodshelf Network a food bank? What are the main differences between and foodshelf and a food bank?
Yes, EFN is a food bank. Food banks are larger organizations that purchase or secure food and essential support services on behalf of foodshelves (and other hunger relief organizations and programs) so that they ca