Du Nord Foundation

COMMUNITY MARKET/FOOD SHELF: THE DU NORD FOUNDATION COMMUNITY MARKET SEES ITSELF AS A BARRIER-FREE FOOD SHELF WITH THE HEART OF A MUTUAL AID ORGANIZATION. UNLIKE MANY TRADITIONAL FOOD SHELVES, WE POSE NO LIMITATIONS ON ACCESS. FOOD SHELVES OFTEN PLACE LIMITS ON THE NUMBER OF TIMES PEOPLE CAN ACCESS AID IN A MONTH, OR ASK FOR PROOF OF NEED, OR PROOF OF RESIDENCY WITHIN A GEOGRAPHIC BOUNDARY. AS A MUTUAL AID ORGANIZATION, WE RELY ON COMMUNITY SUPPORT, COMMUNITY INPUT & TRY TO REMOVE ALL BARRIERS FOR THOSE WHO ACCESS OUR RESOURCES.OUR CORE & FOUNDING STAFF HAS DIRECT EXPERIENCE IN THE HUNGER RELIEF SYSTEM, KNOWING WHAT THE BARRIERS TO FOOD SECURITY HAVE BEEN FOR OUR COMMUNITIES. WE WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT THIS WASN'T A TRADITIONAL CHARITY APPROACH. WE DON'T THINK OF WHAT WE'RE DOING AS JUST HUNGER RELIEF - IT'S NOT JUST ABOUT FOOD. EVERYTHING THAT WE DO ENCOMPASSES THE HEALTH, SAFETY, DIGNITY & RESPECT OF OUR NEIGHBORS. WE ENSURE THEY HAVE A CHOICE IN EVERY ASPECT OF THEIR EXPERIENCE.IN 2021 THE BARRIER-FREE FOOD SHELF, COMMUNITY MARKET ACCOMPLISHED THE FOLLOWING:INDIVIDUAL NEIGHBORS NOURISHED WITH FREE GROCERIES: 24,606FAMILIES NOURISHED WITH FREE GROCERIES: 4,988CHILDREN NOURISHED: 10,528DISTRIBUTION OF FREE GROCERIES: 227,600 POUNDSREADY TO EAT MEALS: 40360% OF OUR FOOD BUDGET WAS SPENT ON FRESH FRUITS & VEGETABLES