Opening in early 2024, the new Community Market will serve our community in a new way.

Food insecurity can happen to anyone. In Minnesota, food insecurity impacts 1 in 12 of our neighbors, and the need for fresh, high-quality food continues to grow. At the White Bear Area Food Shelf (WBAFS), we served almost double the people since the pandemic. And, we’ve seen a 21% increase in demand for food in our community in just the last couple months, driven by inflation and reduced government support programs since the pandemic.

Our neighbors need our help, and as a food shelf, we’re ready to rise to the challenge and care for our community. We’re building a new, in-person storefront to share the abundance we have with those who need it, when they need it. This innovative new Community Market will look and feel like a neighborhood market, helping us reach more people in our community and offer diverse foods. The Community Market will complement our existing programs – and help us double the number of people we can serve in the future. In addition to caring for our neighbors in a new way, partners will join us on site at the Community Market to make connections with resources in our network beyond food.

Everyone is welcome at WBAFS. We’re excited for the Community Market and will share updates on the project as it progresses. To make a donation or learn more about supporting WBAFS, visit whitebearfoodshelf.org. Together, we will continue to take care of each other for years to come.