Charity organizations, particularly food shelves and pantries, are struggling to keep up with an increased demand for services and fewer volunteers. Here are places you can donate to across Minnesota.
How to lend a helping hand to charities during the COVID-19 crisis
In particular food shelves and pantries are struggling to keep up with an increased demand for services and fewer volunteers.
March 19, 2020 at 11:20PM
Statewide
Red Cross, Minnesota Region
Prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies through blood and money donations. There are five locations across Minnesota.
612-871-7676
Memorial Blood Centers
Provides blood to those who need it and delivers laboratory testing services to customers around the world. There are 10 donor centers located throughout Minnesota and northwestern Wisconsin.
888-448-3253
YMCA
Provides child care and youth services, including providing athletic facilities, holding classes and summer programs, and humanitarian work. Facilities are located throughout Minnesota.
612-230-9622
Lutheran Social Services of Minnesota
Currently seeking volunteers to help package and deliver meals to homebound older adults in Greater Minnesota. Volunteer caregivers are needed to provide telephone support and visits to some families who have loved ones with chronic care and need a break. Training is provided. Also seeking groceries and hygiene items for youth experiencing homeless serviced through the LSS Metro Homeless Youth Services in the Twin Cities. For more information: Email Rosie.Blanc@lssmn.org or call 651-470-8801.
Twin Cities metro
Meals on Wheels, Minneapolis
A meal delivery service for the elderly in the Twin Citie. Accepting volunteer drivers and cash donations by mail, phone or online.
612-623-3363
People Serving People, Minneapolis
Serves homeless and at-risk children and their families.
612-332-4500
Greater Twin Cities United Way, Minneapolis
Greater Twin Cities United Way is the largest nongovernmental funder of food shelves and meal programs in the Twin Cities region.
612-340-7400
Minnehaha Food Shelf, Minneapolis
Feeds the hungry and distributes up to 30,000 pounds of food each month.
612-721-6231
St. Stephen's Human Services, Minneapolis
Requests donations of frozen meals for emergency shelters and seeking donations of hand sanitizer, hand soap, disinfecting wipes, disposable masks, paper towels and toilet paper to be delivered to its center at 2309 Nicollet Av. Online donations also accepted.
612-874-0311
Open Arms of Minnesota, Minneapolis
A nonprofit that prepares and delivers free, nutritious meals to people living with HIV/AIDS, cancer, ALS, and other life-threatening illnesses in the Twin Cities.
612-872-1152
East Side Neighborhood Services
Serves older adults and food insecure populations across Hennepin County through its Senior Food Shelf, Glendale Food Shelf, and High Rise Mobile Food Shelf programs.
612-787-4111
Catholic Charities, Twin Cities
Provides shelter, food, housing, education and medical services to children and families, adults, elders and those with disabilities in the Twin Cities.
612-204-8374
Second Harvest Heartland, St. Paul and Brooklyn Park
Prepares emergency meals to assist families, partnering with nearly 1,000 food shelves, food pantries and other meal programs.
651-484-5117
Neighborhood House, St. Paul
Food, housing and education services in St. Paul, seeking volunteers and donations.
651-789-2500
The Sheridan Story, Roseville
Provides multiple food gap programs to more than 10,000 children when they aren't able to receive free and reduced meals at school across 300 locations in Minnesota.
612-568-4003
360 Communities, Burnsville
A network of food shelves in Burnsville, Rosemount, Lakeville, Apple Valley, and Farmington providing immediate food and resources to individuals and families.
952-985-5300
Help At Your Door, Golden Valley
Provides grocery shopping, transportation and home cleaning services for seniors and people with disabilities in the Twin Cities metro area.
651-642-1892
The Food Group, New Hope
Partners with food pantries to bring affordable, healthy groceries to low-income residents of the Twin Cities and surrounding areas.
763-450-3860
White Bear Area Emergency Food Shelf, White Bear Lake
Provides food and support to neighbors who live within White Bear Area School District and self-identify a need for food.
651-407-5310
Twin Cities Music Community Trust, Minneapolis
All funds donated will help those who have lost a performance due to COVID-19 and its effect on the live music industry. This includes night staff, door staff, bartenders, security, stage crews, tour managers, merchandise sellers and photographers.
Email info@twincitiesmusictrust.org
Greater Minnesota
CHUM Food Shelf, Duluth
Provides emergency shelter, food and street outreach throughout Duluth. Cash is preferred.
218-720-6521
ECHO Food Shelf, Mankato
Provides emergency food assistance to people in Blue Earth County and North Mankato.
507-345-7508
Channel One Food Shelf, Rochester
Provides food assistance to low-income individuals and families through the Channel One Food Shelf Program. Seeking cash, food and volunteers to pack emergency food boxes.
507-287-2350
Kandiyohi County Food Shelf, Willmar
Provides food to Kandiyohi County residents. Cash donations can be made online or by mail.
320-235-2641
McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, Glencoe
Provides hunger relief to residents of McLeod County.
PHONE
Buffalo Food Shelf, Buffalo
A Christian, non-profit, community-based organization supplementing food and hygiene items to those in need within the community.
763-684-1699
Ruby's Pantry, North Branch
Distributes food at Pop-Up Pantry locations across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
651-674-0009
Correction: Previous versions of this article had an incorrect web address for 360 Communities.
These Minnesotans are poised to play prominent roles in state and national politics in the coming years.
