MINNEAPOLIMEDIA NEWS | ACBC Food Shelf Adds Refrigerated Outdoor Lockers to Expand Flexible Food Access

ANOKA, MN (July 30, 2026). Families and individuals who cannot visit the ACBC Food Shelf during its regular operating hours now have another way to receive groceries through a new outdoor food-locker program in Anoka.

The Anoka County Brotherhood Council Food Shelf has installed temperature-controlled lockers at its facility at 2615 Ninth Avenue North. The lockers allow participants to collect refrigerated, frozen and shelf-stable groceries during more flexible pickup periods.

The program offers an alternative to ACBC’s monthly in-person food shelf appointment. Participants place their orders through an online system, choosing the food they need from the available selection. ACBC employees and volunteers then pack the orders and place them inside the lockers for collection.

Orders may include perishable and nonperishable foods. Participants can order up to 48 hours before their scheduled pickup, according to ACBC.

The lockers are designed to help people whose work schedules, transportation challenges, medical conditions or household responsibilities make it difficult to attend a traditional food shelf appointment.

“One of the barriers our neighbors expressed experiencing was the option to have more flexible, evening, and weekend access, especially for households who face various barriers when seeking assistance,” ACBC Chief Executive Officer Stephanie Lehman said when the program was announced.

The idea grew out of responses collected through ACBC’s annual participant surveys. Staff members said they regularly heard from residents who needed food but could not obtain it because available appointments conflicted with work, transportation or family responsibilities.

“Almost daily we hear from people who are in need of food, but can’t visit us because of work schedules, transportation issues or other barriers to getting or keeping an appointment,” ACBC Board President Denise DeMars said. “This is a chance for us to meet them on their time and increase the number of families we can help.”

The outdoor system does not eliminate participants’ ability to choose their food. Instead of receiving a standardized package, users select available items while completing their online order. Staff members and volunteers assemble each order according to those choices.

That feature preserves an important part of ACBC’s choice-based food shelf model, which gives households greater control over what they receive and helps account for dietary needs, cultural preferences and the food already available in their homes.

ACBC began making the lockers available to participants in late April after more than a year of planning. The City of Coon Rapids highlighted the completed program in July as a new resource for North Metro residents.

The project received financial support from the Affinity Plus Foundation, Second Harvest Heartland, the Statewide Health Improvement Partnership and the Church of St. Timothy. Affinity Plus contributed a $10,000 grant toward the initiative.

ACBC estimates that the locker program could increase its service capacity by approximately 30 percent, allowing the organization to reach more people experiencing food insecurity without relying exclusively on additional in-person shopping appointments.

Although the lockers create more flexible pickup opportunities, users must still schedule their orders. They are not open-access food cabinets where groceries can be taken without registration or an appointment.

ACBC’s in-person food shelf market remains open by appointment Monday through Thursday. Participants may visit the market once each calendar month unless another arrangement has been approved by the organization’s program manager.

Market appointments are available from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Mondays, noon to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesdays and noon to 7 p.m. Thursdays. Locker schedules vary according to availability.

People interested in using the lockers can schedule a pickup through ACBC’s website. Those who need help placing an order or determining whether the program meets their needs may call 763-422-0046 or email support@acbcfoodshelf.org.

ACBC serves Anoka County residents and people from surrounding communities. In addition to its food shelf market and lockers, the organization provides grocery delivery for some eligible homebound residents, supplemental food for qualifying seniors, produce distributions, support for unhoused people, summer food for children and other household resources.

ACBC was founded in 1971 by four women who began distributing food and clothing from a basement. The organization says it expects to serve more than 110,000 individuals during 2026 as demand for food assistance continues across Anoka County.

Sources:

ACBC Food Shelf, “ACBC Starts Outdoor Food Locker Program”; ACBC Food Shelf, Food Shelf Market and Food Lockers; City of Coon Rapids, “ACBC Food Shelf Adds Outdoor Lockers”; Anoka County Food Assistance Directory

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