Dignity is Key

• January 28, 2020
• Staff

As we set our sight toward year 2020, one of our goals is to encourage our community partner agencies to take a step back and observe their processes and procedures. We ask that they think about how to continuously improve their process in order to become efficient. Transitioning to a Client Choice Food Pantry may be the key to save time and labor.

The Client Choice Food Pantry model is a critical part of a community’s effort to end hunger. Client Choice allows people seeking food assistance to choose the products they need to best fit their needs. Having the opportunity to choose their own food gives the people being served a sense of dignity and control. It also limits waste (since they tend not to take food they won’t use) and allows them to tailor the help they receive to be the best possible fit for their own unique situation.

With a Client Choice Model, there is no “one size fits all.” There are different variations to suit the needs of partner agencies. Each pantry has its own unique set of needs, clients, and they all differ in size and capacity. Transitioning to Client Choice is achievable and the size of the distribution area is not a barrier. It can make the distribution of food a lot easier by alleviating the strain on volunteers because they do not have to place food items into a box.

We will be sharing more information to address any questions and/or concerns about Client Choice and helping our partners see how they can incorporate elements into their distribution. This is one of the many ways that we are working to better serve the El Paso region.

For more information about Client Choice Pantries contact Karmela Galicia at 915-298-0353 ext. 105 or by email at kgalicia@epfhfb.org