Catholic Charities Food Shelf Is Certified as a SuperShelf
January 31, 2020
Join Us Tuesday, February 4, to Celebrate This Achievement!
Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf has been certified as a SuperShelf. The transformation from food shelf to SuperShelf built on existing foundations and results in a welcoming, positive grocery store-like experience for clients.
An event on Tuesday, February 4, 2020, from 3 pm to 5 pm at Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Road, Suite 100, St. Cloud, will mark the designation as a SuperShelf. Supporters, donors, clients, community members and local media are welcome to gather and celebrate this achievement.
“We are so proud to have achieved SuperShelf status,” said Sue Hanks, program manager, Catholic Charities Emergency Services. “It has taken much hard work and the support of our staff, volunteers and the community to accomplish. We believe that the changes we’ve made will set us up to bring good food to all for many years to come.”
Over the past several months, Catholic Charities Food Shelf has made a number of positive changes to secure the SuperShelf certification. Highlights include:
- Increasing the quantity, accessibility and variety of healthier foods;
- Reconfiguring the food shelf layout to give prominence to fruits, vegetables and less-processed foods;
- Changing food categories to encourage selection of healthier options;
- Showcasing and promoting healthier foods by spotlighting them, providing recipes and samples;
- Developing policy to sustain practices and protecting supply to avoid inventory issues.
Donations of appropriate foods or finances are always welcomed. Please visit ccstcloud.org/services/emergency/food-shelf to learn more.
About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud is a nonprofit organization that works to build communities, promote family life and enhance human dignity by providing quality services to meet the physical, social, emotional and spiritual needs of individuals and families of all faiths and beliefs.
About SuperShelf
The mission of SuperShelf is to transform food shelves, creating welcoming environments for communities to access appealing, healthy food. SuperShelf was founded by a partnership between The Food Group, Valley Outreach, HealthPartners, the University of Minnesota Extension Health and Nutrition team, and the University of Minnesota Department of Family Medicine and Community Health. Many additional community partners have since joined the project in support of the work. The foundations for SuperShelf began in 2012 at Valley Outreach in Stillwater, Minnesota. Valley Outreach partnered with Lakeview Hospital (part of HealthPartners) to transform its environment for clients. Once the potential for community health improvement was realized, the scope of the project expanded. The founding partners worked to identify and implement promising practices at other pilot food shelf sites. A 2.1 million-dollar, five-year grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in 2017 enabled SuperShelf to expand to a number of additional locations and study the impact on the community’s health.
Our Recent News
Catholic Charities is expanding its ability to serve older adults across Wright County with the addition of a new hot/cold delivery truck, made possible through funding from the Central Minnesota Council on Aging (CMCOA) and generous community support. The investment will help strengthen and grow Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining services, ensuring nutritious meals reach more seniors safely and efficiently. As the demand for nutritious meal services continues to rise, reliable transportation plays a critical role in connecting older adults with the food they depend on every day. The new truck improves the delivery process by transporting meals from Catholic Charities' production kitchens to community meal sites and home-delivered meal routes throughout the region. Designed with separate heated and refrigerated compartments, the vehicle allows staff to transport hot, fresh meals and frozen meals at the same time while maintaining strict food safety standards. The truck's specialized design ensures meals arrive at the proper temperature, preserving both quality and safety for those receiving them. The vehicle can carry hundreds of meals daily, significantly increasing delivery capacity and operational efficiency. Before the addition of the truck, meals were transported using insulated hot and cold bags, requiring additional handling and limiting the number of meals that could be delivered on each route. Today, hot meals leave the kitchen at approximately 180 degrees and maintain safe temperatures throughout transport, arriving at the recommended serving temperature of 165 degrees. Frozen and refrigerated meals are delivered below 40 degrees, allowing recipients to safely store them upon arrival. The impact extends beyond meal quality. Staff and volunteers now spend less time loading, unloading, and managing insulated bags, allowing them to focus more on serving clients and ensuring deliveries are completed safely and on time. Meals are delivery-ready when the truck arrives at outreach locations, creating a more streamlined process that benefits everyone involved. "Food access for rural seniors continues to be a growing concern," said Stacy Lund, Program Director. "The truck will provide opportunities for Catholic Charities to continue service in our rural communities as operational funding and resources become more limited while community need continues to increase." More than just a vehicle, the new hot/cold truck represents an investment in the future of Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining services. It provides the infrastructure needed to meet growing demand, expand service opportunities, and support older adults who rely on these programs to remain healthy, independent, and connected to their communities. In a fitting tribute, staff have named the truck Grace in honor of Sister Grace, a beloved former employee whose legacy of service continues to inspire the organization's mission today. Like its namesake, Grace will help deliver not only nutritious meals, but also the caring connections that make a meaningful difference in the lives of older adults across Central Minnesota. About Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining Catholic Charities' Meals on Wheels and Senior Dining programs provide nutritious meals and meaningful social connections for older adults throughout Central Minnesota. Through home-delivered and congregate meal services, the programs help individuals maintain their independence, improve food security, and remain connected to their communities. The addition of Grace ensures Catholic Charities can continue advancing that mission for years to come.
If you've spent time with Brian Woods, you've probably heard a great story.
At Catholic Charities, we are blessed to witness moments that reveal the true spirit of community. During a recent visit to our St. Cloud Senior Dining program, our team saw one of those moments firsthand. Grandpa Ray and his grandson, Noah, were preparing to deliver meals—a routine that has become a treasured family tradition. Ray often brings all three of his grandsons, turning service into something that strengthens their bond while uplifting others. Our Senior Dining Coordinator, Kim, shared that Ray and his grandkids have become a bright spot for many of the neighbors we serve. For those receiving meals, it’s not just about nutrition. It’s the warmth of a familiar smile, the energy of young people at the door, and the reminder that they are seen and cared for. This simple act of delivering meals shows the power of serving together—building community, connection, and hope one doorstep at a time. We depend on volunteers like Ray—and like you—to bring compassion to our neighbors. If you feel called to serve, explore our volunteer opportunities, including meal delivery and family volunteering. Your kindness could be the moment someone looks forward to each day. Make an impact and volunteer with us!
