Grand Marais Food Shelf prepares to adopt SuperShelf model

Big changes are coming for Grand Marais Food Shelf. After 20 years serving the community with emergency hunger relief, the food shelf’s board has decided to adopt the SuperShelf model, and with that, undertake changes to their site.

SuperShelf was developed by the University of Minnesota Extension as a template for food shelves to use to improve their guest experience. Carol Stender, a member of the food shelf’s board, told WTIP that the model was developed based on surveys of food shelf users. She said an overwhelming number of responses showed a wish for more fresh food options, like produce, meats, and dairy. The other main survey takeaways were guests wanting more control over what food they take home, and valuing welcoming staff.

The SuperShelf model patterns food shelf spaces after grocery stores. According to the UMN Extension website about SuperShelf, the aim is to bring a greater sense of dignity to the food shelf experience by emphasizing shopper autonomy and access to more fresh food options.

Stender said that improving the guest experience was paramount for the Grand Marais food shelf. “You know it carries with it a certain stigma, which is terribly unfortunate, because there doesn’t have to be that much that goes wrong that throws you off the rail,” she said.

The shift toward offering more options and individual autonomy for visitors will be a big change the food shelf. The current food distribution system involves pre-packed boxes or bags, depending on household size. Stender said pre-packing the food began during the Covid-19 pandemic, when allowing people access to the space had to be limited.

Stender also explained that when the food shelf was founded roughly two decades ago, it was designed for emergency relief, helping with food for just a few days. She said that in recent years the food shelf has become a more regular part of users’ food access. Across the state, food shelves are seeing increased usage. The changes in model will mean a more deliberate shift away from being a more limited emergency food shelf.

Stender said that she was inspired to get involved and push for the SuperShelf model after a meeting of the Cook County Food Access Council. “I did some research, found out more about who was on the food shelf board, and I requested to be a member, and they said, okay, and then the next time I pitched to the board,” she said, “Everybody bought in and away we go.”

The renovation work is scheduled to begin on Tuesday, Jan. 20, and should be completed that week. The work will include painting and reorganizing, in addition to an expansion of the food shelf space itself.

While work on the space will be completed more immediately, Stender said the transition to the SuperShelf model will take place over the course of February. She said the Food Shelf board hopes that will include expanded hours for services, but for that they are hoping to recruit more volunteers to help with staffing.

At this time, the food shelf is open every Monday from 3 to 5 p.m., and from the first Wednesday of each month from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. She said that fresh produce is only delivered on the first Monday of the month, which results in that day being disproportionately busy, with any leftover produce being distributed on Wednesday.  “It concentrates too many people for one two hour period at the very beginning of the month, and it overwhelms the volunteers. It makes people wait longer than they would like to,” she said.

The single day of produce delivery is not the only way that the food shelf is able to help guests access fresh food. Stender said that the Grand Marais Food Shelf is one of only two in the state to offer vouchers for local grocery stores. She said some are specifically earmarked for produce. The SuperShelf model will help the food shelf expand access to more fresh options for visitors.

Stender said that those who are interested in volunteering for the food shelf once the renovations are complete should contact her at cstender51@gmail.com.

WTIP’s Kirsen Wisniewski spoke with Carol Stender about the upcoming changes to the Grand Marais Food Shelf. Audio of the interview can be found below.

Kirsten Wisniewski January 17, 2026