A Note to Our Neighbors
October 2024 

At Community Food Share, we are deeply committed to making nutritious food available to everyone in our community. Your feedback helps guide us, letting us know where we’re doing well and where we can improve. Recently, we surveyed those of you who visited our mobile pantries from July through September to learn more about your experiences and find out how we can better meet your needs. We heard from 101 neighbors—thank you so much for your input and your trust in us to listen and respond. 

What We Learned 

Access and Convenience 

One of our main goals is to bring food services closer to your homes at times that work for you. We’re happy to share that 53% of you reported traveling less than 15 minutes to reach a mobile pantry site, aligning with our goal of making food access as convenient as possible. While 71% of you said it wasn’t challenging to get to the pantry during the scheduled hours, we know that barriers may still exist for others who might need different times or locations. Your feedback is helping us understand where we might expand or adjust our services to better serve everyone in the community. 

Wait Times 

We understand that your time is valuable, and we’re always working to provide timely service. Many of you arrive early to make sure you get a good selection of food and to accommodate your other daily commitments. Our data showed that 24% of you waited more than an hour, 25% waited 31-60 minutes, 29% waited 15-30 minutes, and 23% waited 15 minutes or less. Neighbors who arrive after the distribution has started often experience the shortest wait times. We’re continuously exploring ways to improve wait times so that you can access the food you need more quickly. 

 

Respect and Dignity 

A core value for us is treating everyone with dignity and respect, and we’re thrilled to hear that 99% of you felt this from our staff and volunteers. Comments like “You guys are very efficient, professional, and polite” and “Volunteers were friendly and welcoming” mean a lot to us. Thank you for recognizing our team’s dedication—we are here for you, and it’s our privilege to serve. 

Produce Quality 

Many of you expressed satisfaction with the quality, freshness, and variety of produce available at our mobile pantries. However, we did hear concerns about produce spoiling before it could be eaten. We understand that receiving food close to its expiration date can be challenging. Like many food banks, we often rely on donated produce, which can sometimes be close to its “use-by” date by the time it reaches us. We’re committed to finding ways to improve freshness whenever possible, and in the meantime, here are a few tips for getting the most out of your produce: 

  • Vinegar Wash: Rinsing produce in a vinegar-water solution (1 part vinegar to 3 parts water) as soon as you bring it home can help remove bacteria, mold, and pesticide residue that can cause spoilage. Just soak for a few minutes, rinse with fresh water, and dry thoroughly before storing. This method works well for items like berries, greens, and veggies. Properly drying your produce afterward is key to keeping it fresh longer! 
  • Freezing: Many fruits and vegetables can be frozen to extend their life. Consider freezing items like berries, greens, and peppers if you can’t use them right away. 
  • Proper Storage: Store produce items in their ideal conditions to help them last longer. For example, keep bananas, tomatoes, and potatoes out of the fridge, while greens and herbs do well when refrigerated. 

Food Variety and Availability 

Several of you requested more variety, especially milk and meat. We are actively exploring additional partnerships to increase our availability of these high-demand items. While we may not always have these items in stock, please know we are constantly looking for ways to meet your needs.  

Thank You for Your Input! 

Your feedback is invaluable. It guides our efforts to ensure we’re meeting your needs and delivering the highest quality service. We are setting clear targets for customer satisfaction, respect, and equitable access, and we will continue working hard to improve based on your insights. 

Thank you for being a part of Community Food Share and for trusting us to listen and act on your feedback. Together, we can make a difference in ensuring nutritious food reaches everyone who needs it. If you have further suggestions or questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out—we’re here for you. 

Thank you for your support and for being such an important part of our community!