St. Mary’s Food Bank is excited to announce that the Neighborhood Food Center in Surprise, AZ has rolled out a new client choice distribution model. This innovative approach aims to offer our neighbors a more personalized and empowering pantry experience.

Felipe Herrera, the Site Manager of St. Mary’s Food Bank in Surprise, gave us the scoop on their exciting new model. Launched on Monday, April 15, the client choice distribution model has been warmly received by our neighbors, with an average of 428 neighbors visiting the pantry each week.

Neighbors now have the freedom to select the foods that best suit their families’ needs or unique preferences, such as religious or dietary restrictions. One neighbor said, “We love it. We get to pick our food that we are actually going to eat and not what we don’t want. We feel blessed about it,” highlighting the positive impact this change has had on her family.  Another neighbor shared she can now meal prep healthy meals for her family, with the ability to choose her own products and avoid those that she is not familiar with. The layout and flexibility of the pantry experience has been particularly praised, mirroring the convenience of a traditional grocery store.

Felipe gathered that each shopping cart filled by our neighbors is valued at nearly $200 in donated product, excluding the CSFP box. With a wide variety of food products being offered, including frozen meats, fresh produce, eggs, breads, and more, the pantry is stocked to cater to various needs. We also provide non-food essentials like pet food, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies when available.

For the Agency Partners of St. Mary’s Food Bank interested in adopting a client choice distribution model, Felipe encourages you to visit other agencies already implementing this approach. We had the pleasuring of touring City Hope, Foothills Food Bank, Banner Olive Senior Center, and Harvest Compassion Center. Felipe welcomes any of our Agency Partners to visit the Neighborhood Food Center in Surprise to tour the pantry and ask questions. Their innovation might inspire you as you develop your own client choice pantry!

In addition, don’t hesitate to reach out to donors or seek support for expenses and equipment. Felipe shares that St. Mary’s Food Bank received substantial community support when adopting the new model, including donations of new equipment. Large businesses often have surplus equipment that they may be willing to donate—just ask! For instance, Sprouts Farmers Market generously donated equipment to our pantry and assisted with floor model designs.

In adopting this model, volunteers have the opportunity to engage in meaningful interactions with our neighbors, fostering genuine connections and building trust within our community. Felipe highlights the importance of scheduling volunteer shifts and training volunteers in advance. This model requires dedicated volunteers to have one-on-one conversations with neighbors, and staff should be ready to step in if volunteer numbers fall short. Additionally, continuous restocking of shelves throughout the distribution ensures an authentic and inviting grocery store experience. To avoid conflicts when running multiple programs, ensure your pantry offers the same products as your grab-and-go services.

Felipe encourages agencies to consider the client choice distribution model, saying, “Introducing a new model can feel intimidating, but if you stay flexible, make changes as necessary, and listen to the needs of your neighbors, you’ll be successful. The client choice model is a very positive experience that feels so great to offer to your community.”

Interested in touring the Neighborhood Food Center in Surprise, AZ? Please do not hesitate to contact us!