Community Food Shelf at First Lutheran – Food Distribution Center

The Community Food Shelf at First Lutheran provides supplemental food assistance to residents of Aitkin County without requiring special referral, operating as an “open shelf” pantry where clients select their own food items. Since evolving from an emergency food shelf into a regular food pantry in May 2002, the nonprofit organization has served over 1,000 households, averaging 140 families per month, and is operated entirely by volunteers with support from First Lutheran Church and the Second Harvest Food Bank partnership. Located at 107 2nd Street SE in Aitkin, the food shelf is open on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of each month, with emergency boxes available on weekdays.