Anoka County Food Shelf: Dignity, Compassion & Community
Through partnership, volunteerism, and innovation, Affinity Plus is helping the Anoka County Brotherhood Council Food Shelf improve access to essential resources for thousands of local residents.
What started as a volunteer partnership between our Coon Rapids branch and the local food shelf has quickly become a shared mission rooted in compassion, dignity, and community.
The Anoka County Brotherhood Counsel Food Shelf sits about a mile from our Affinity Plus Coon Rapids Branch and serves roughly 78,000 Anoka County residents, many of whom we also undoubtedly serve.
ACBC makes it a priority to be inclusive with multilingual support, culturally relevant foods, and home-delivery options. And coming in 2026, the food shelf will offer 24/7 access to services via a climate-controlled food pick-up locker, thanks in part to a $10,000 grant from the Affinity Plus Foundation.
This level of accessibility will allow community members to safely access pre-packed food orders at any time of day or night, even when the food shelf is closed.
For families working non-traditional hours, parents juggling multiple jobs, or individuals facing transportation and scheduling barriers, this means food access no longer has to fit into a narrow window of their already-tight schedule.
Our Affinity Plus employees have also been spending time volunteering at the food shelf.
“We've had fun rolling up our sleeves to pack orders, go through donations and support daily operations at ACBC,” said Patty Petermeir, branch manager in Coon Rapids. “There has been support from employees across the Metro that come together to help maximize the impact in our community. It’s fulfilling and fun, and maybe even a little competitive as we race to see group can pack the most boxes!”
Affinity Plus is proud to support ACBC’s important work and to continue our investment in Coon Rapids and beyond.
