If you’ve ever stepped inside CAER Food Shelf, you’ve likely noticed the bright, welcoming space that feels more like a small grocery store than a typical food shelf. That’s intentional. CAER follows a choice model , allowing individuals and families to select the foods that best meet their needs—reducing waste and honoring personal and cultural preferences. It’s all about dignity, flexibility, and creating a positive, respectful experience. Still, one question often comes up when visitors see shelves filled with fresh produce, dairy, meat, pantry staples, and personal care items: “Where does all this food come from?” The answer: a lot of places. Some donated, some purchased. Some rescued from retail shelves, and some grown in backyards or local fields.
At CAER, we often talk about the importance of reducing hunger in our community—but there’s another critical part of what we do that doesn’t get as much attention: reducing food waste.
CAER provides food shelf services by partnering with local food banks such as Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group.
