Program Overview
Multicultural Mobile Foodshelf increases the amount of culturally appropriate food that is distributed to people in need. Community groups partner with EFN to host monthly free food distributions of packages containing nutritious and culturally appropriate products such as Jasmine or Basmati rice, dried beans, gari, and fufu or masa flour. EFN currently distributes culturally appropriate foods to East and West African communities as well as Latino communities in the Twin Cities metro area.
African Food Distribution News Coverage from 2008
Video Courtesy of Channel 12
This video will give you an example of the food that is distibuted. Since filming, Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) in Brooklyn Park has since partnered to distribute.
Launched in 2005, the Multicultural Mobile Foodshelf originally partnered with the Somali community to distribute 75 food packages per month. Since then the program has expanded to distribute an average of 900-1,000 packages each month through 5 different community partners. Multi-Cultural Mobile Foodshelf ensures that people in need have resources available to cook things that are familiar to them and nutritious for their family.
Increased Need for the Program
As the Twin Cities has seen growth in our immigrant population, food shelves have not been able to keep up with the rising demand for culturally specific food items. Minnesota’s population is diversifying - recent Census data shows that the percent of Minnesotans identifying as Hispanic increased by 74.5% from 2000 to 2010 and that the percent identifying as Asian increased by 50.9% according to Minneapolis Foundation.
Multicultural Mobile Foodshelf Distributions
- East African Food Distributions: EFN partners with Brian Coyle Community Center and Community Emergency Services (CES) in South Minneapolis to distribute 300 Somali food packages each month. Participants receive approximately 15 pounds of culturally specific foods per household at no cost. Food products include items that are familiar to participants and that they frequently use: tomatoes, pasta, tuna, flour, sugar, jasmine rice, and vegetable oil.
- West African Food Distributions: EFN partners with Community Emergency Assistance Program (CEAP) in Brooklyn Park, Maple Grove, and Blaine as well as Gethsemane Lutheran and United Friends in Christ in Saint Paul to distribute approximately 300 West African food packages each month. Participants receive approximately 15 pounds of culturally specific foods per household at no cost. Food products include items that are familiar to participants and that they frequently use: fufu flour, gari, maggi cubes, and parboiled rice.
- Latino Food Distributions: EFN partners with The Church of the Nazarene in Brooklyn Center to distribute approximately 300 Latino food packages each month. Participants receive approximately 15 pounds of culturally specific foods per household at no cost. Food products include items that are familiar to participants and that they frequently use: rice, dried pinto and black beans, masa flour, and vegetable oil.
Get Involved
For additional information on how to participate or get involved in the Multicultural Mobile Foodshelf program, please contact Win Moua, Program Coordinator, at 763-450-4211 or via email wmoua@emergencyfoodshelf.org.
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