CHUM Emergency Food Shelf

The Emergency Food Shelf was organized in 1979 by the Duluth Food and Nutrition Council as a means to distribute food to families affected by the serious economic recession of the late 1970's.  The Shelf became the responsibility of  CHUM in 1981 and expanded to a second site in West Duluth in 1982.

The Food Shelf operates with the philosophy that people in need of food should have access to this most fundamental of human needs.  We strive to respond to the need for food in a manner that is compassionate and promotes respect for the individual, regardless of age, race, gender, creed, disability or lifestyle.

The food shelf provides a five-day food order for people without food or the resources to buy food, and advocacy services connecting people to community resources (e.g., shelter, medical care, children’s services, employment, clothing, and emergency monies). Staff, along with approximately 100 volunteers, distributes 230,000 pounds of food annually. An average of 460 households receives emergency food each month; roughly 35% of those fed are children. People using the food shelves have access to an advocate who provides information referral service and short-term counseling. 

Foods Most Needed

canned meals (stews, chili, hash, spaghettios) * canned peaches, pineapple, pears, whole kernel corn, peas vegetable, chicken noodle or cream soup * canned chicken, tuna or Spam ramen noodles * Frozen juice or juice concentrate in flip top cans * flour & sugar * cereal

Duluth Emergency News Letter
This newsletter is published twice a year.  This link brings you to a PDF of the most recent newsletter.

The Food Shelf is funded by community contributions and grants. Three major fund/food drives are held each year in partnership with other area food distribution agencies.

October SHARE Community Food Drive is a celebration of neighbors helping neighbors held the 4th Saturday of October. Churches, youth groups, Girl & Boy Scouts, students, families and community organizations participate in this community-wide effort to stock local food shelves.

The May National Association of Letter Carriers Drive takes place the second Saturday of May and is the largest food drive in the United States. It offers an opportunity to increase food shelf inventories for the summer when donations traditionally decrease. The 2009 Letter Carriers Poster can be downloaded and printer. Please post where ever you can!

Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign is extremely important because it provides the opportunity to receive matching dollars for all donations of food and cash.  The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign provides a proportional match for all food and financial contributions received through out the month of March.   The Feinstein Foundation provides a proportional match for all gifts given in March and April.

East Food Shelf serves people from all over the city while the West Food Shelf serves people primarily in neighborhoods west of 40th Avenue West in space that is generously donated by Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.