Buffalo Food Shelf works to reduce food insecurity

The effects of food insecurity are felt here in Wright County. The Buffalo Food Shelf plays a large role in reducing hunger at the local level.  

History and Operations

The Buffalo Food Shelf began as a small church-run pantry in the 1970s, later moving to Buffalo Covenant Church in 1987 as demand grew. Increasing needs led the Buffalo Ministerial Association to take oversight and appoint a director to manage operations.

In 2004, the organization became an independent 501(c)(3) nonprofit and continued relocating to rented locations as it outgrew space until finding its home at 301 12th Ave. S. In 2015, an expansion project more than doubled the facility’s size, improved refrigeration, added additional parking, and upgraded food rescue operations. 

Today, the Buffalo Food Shelf serves the needs of area residents, supported by food and monetary donations, including discounted purchases from Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group. Operations are run by five part-time staff and supported by more than 150 volunteers, with governance from a community council and executive board.

Laureen Bodin began serving on the Buffalo Food Shelf Board in 2022 and became Executive Director in 2024. Bodin states that the number of food shelf users can vary, estimating that totals for this year have fluctuated between 800-900 users each month. 

During the months of September and October, the food shelf saw an uptick in usage and donations as concerns over the supplement nutrition program, SNAP, remained in limbo. 

Throughout the years, the Buffalo Food Shelf’s mission has remained consistent– to provide essential food and hygiene items for people in need, an operation consisting of many hands. 

“We have food rescue almost every single weekday,” stated Bodin. “We have agreements with our stores through Second Harvest Heartland that allow for retail organizations to donate to the food shelf. We also have donations at large from the public. Everything we receive has to be weighed and checked for expiration before being put on our shelves or in refrigeration. Food distributed to users is weighed and tracked. There’s a lot of detail in our day-to-day operations.”

Through humble beginnings and expansion over the years, Buffalo Food Shelf continues to meet the challenges and demands of food insecurity with compassion and understanding.

Food Insecurity

A certain stigma exists around food insecurity which can lead to feelings of shame or embarrassment for individuals in need of assistance, fearing they will be judged as irresponsible or dependent. This stigma can stem from long-held misconceptions about poverty, cultural expectations of self-sufficiency, and a lack of understanding about complex factors—such as rising living costs, medical bills, or job loss—that can push people into hardship. As a result, those needing assistance may avoid food shelves or community resources in times of need. 

Reducing stigma begins with open conversation, community support, and recognizing that anyone can face food insecurity. Accessing help is a sign of strength that shows resilience in the face of hardship, not failure.

Bodin states that the Buffalo Food Shelf strives to create a welcoming environment for those who access services. 

“One of the things we did in 2023-24 was adopt the SuperShelf concept. The University of Minnesota Extension office, along with other agencies, oversaw a program to help food shelves, such as ours, to improve the way we offer food and the environment in which we operate in. 

In 2024, we became certified as a SuperShelf. Part of the criteria is to promote healthier choices and to improve the layout in which we categorize our food. We added signage and painted the interior to make it more welcoming. We also worked to establish mission goals of being welcoming and nonjudgmental. By developing those goals, we become what we say we want to become.”

Community Support

Local groups, organizations, and individual residents also play a big role in combating food insecurity in Wright County.   

The CPKC Holiday Train is an annual area tradition that rolls through each Holiday season, not only to spread Christmas cheer, but with an important mission to combat food insecurity by collecting food and monetary donations to support local food pantries at each city it visits. This year’s event will be held Monday, Dec. 15, with stops in Loretto, Buffalo, and Annandale. 

Holiday Train event attendees are encouraged to bring a food donation, which will be collected by the Buffalo Lions Club. Monetary donations are greatly appreciated as the funds can be used to purchase items in bulk from Second Harvest Heartland and ordered based on specific needs of the food shelf at any given time. 

“We promote monetary donations as one of the best forms of donations we can receive,” stated Bodin. “We can do more to purchase at a discount through Second Harvest than any one person can do by purchasing an item off a store shelf.”

Food drive events bring the community together in a shared effort to fight hunger. 

“The City of Buffalo just did a spice drive. It was targeted at that particular item because it’s not something we receive a lot of. Herbs and spices can be expensive; we received 38 pounds from the City of Buffalo and their donors. A lot of local organizations will host drives focused on specific items. Cereal drives are popular as children enjoy picking out name brand cereals.”

The Buffalo Food Shelf also hosts a variety of community events, including golf outings, ice cream socials, participation in the Buffalo Days parade, and volunteer appreciation events aimed at recruitment and retention. 

“We are always looking for volunteers. It’s so important to have all of our volunteers, many work in the morning to help receive the food; we need folks in the afternoons and evenings for distribution,” said Bodin. 

As the Buffalo Food Shelf continues to meet the challenges of food insecurity and reducing hunger, community support plays a key role through collaboration, commitment, and compassion, ensuring that no one is left without the basic necessity of food.

Editor’s Note:

World hunger organizations estimate there is enough food on the planet to feed the world comfortably and with surplus, a blessing from above, yet food insecurity remains a concern for many. 

It remains the responsibility of us all to manage the supply to the best of our ability. Thank you to those who donate a portion of what they have, and thank you to the caring souls who work and strive to ensure its distribution reaches those in need. 

Those interested in volunteering with the Buffalo Food Shelf can contact the food shelf directly at 763-684-1699 or complete a volunteer application online at: www.buffalofoodshelf.com/volunteer.