Spring, planting, plants, grow, happy, Pine River, Backus, MN, Food Shelf
Your family support & resource center
Current Events
PRBFC Happenings
Curious about programs and Public Health scheduling at the Family Center? Check out the monthly Happenings! This lists everything going on at the Family Center for the entire month, less a few changes to our business hours due to fluctuating staff schedules and training days. For changes in our business hours, check our Facebook Page or Instagram!
Food Shelf
The Pine River Area Food Shelf is open 1st, 3rd, 4th & 5th Tuesdays 10 - 1, 2nd Tuesdays 3 - 6, and Fridays 10 - 1. We proudly partner with local farmers to purchase fresh, local produce, eggs, honey, and more—supporting our neighbors and bringing healthy options to our shelves. We are set up for self-shopping, but if you’re not feeling well, we’re happy to shop for you and have your order ready for pickup. Just call Chelsea at 218-587-4292.
CommUnity Meals
A local collaborative effort has been put together to provide a free weekly meal for anyone who is hungry. Meals are pick-up only on Mondays at the Riverview Church in Pine River or Thursdays at the Pine Mountaineer Senior Center in Backus. Serving time is from 4pm until every meal is gone. Meals will not be served until 4pm.​
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Food Shelf Needs
For those who wish to donate items rather than money, here is a list of items the Pine River Area Food Shelf is short on. There are donation boxes in the hallway between the Family Center and Food Shelf doors for non-perishable items if you choose to donate anonymously. If you're donating perishables or a large amount of items, please speak with someone in the Family Center or Food Shelf during business hours. Thank you, Donors!
Volunteers Needed
The Pine River Area Food Shelf is looking for able-bodied volunteers to help with food distribution twice weekly. We also need volunteers to help with shopping and stocking shelves, as well as greeting shoppers and helping with intake. Volunteers alternate so no one works every food shelf day. If you or someone you know is interested, please give us a call!
Recent Events
2026 Food Share Campaign
Thank you to everyone who supported the Pine River Area Food Shelf during the 2026 Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. Because of your generosity, we raised over $40,000 to help serve our community.
Led by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, this statewide campaign is the largest grassroots food and fund drive in Minnesota, supporting nearly 300 food shelves each year.
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Prepared Meals Grant
Community Meals is funded in part by the Prepared Meals grant program, helping us provide weekly free, hot meals for our community. Grant oversight is provided by Helen Richardson, the Family Center's Executive Director, with administrative support from Chelsea Bixby.
Questions may be directed to: director@prbfamilycenter.org or 218-587-4292.
Initiative Foundation Grant
The Initiative Foundation and Otto Bremer recently granted $15,000 to the Pine River Area Food Shelf to collaborate with local farmers. These farmers will provide fresh produce such as fruits, veggies, eggs and honey so that the hungry in our community have access to the freshest of foods when they come to our Food Shelf.