Food & Nutrition
Emergency Food Shelves
Food shelves provide free food and personal care products (such as diapers, shampoo, soap, etc.) to people in need. Minnesota has more than 300 food shelves. To find the closest food shelf to you by entering your zip code, click here.
Fare For All
Fare For All is open to anyone who wants to save money on their groceries. Participants (seniors, working families, individuals who are both employed and unemployed, or individuals on fixed incomes) have the opportunity to save 40-50% off their monthly food budgets and access fresh fruits and veggies, frozen meats of all kinds, and a variety of non-perishable staple items.
Food packs are sold Monday-Friday in a variety of sites around the Twin Cities metro area, including a bi-monthly location at The Food Group. This model of Fare For All allows participants to pay and take the food home on the same day. Distribution sites are located in many communities across the metro area. Feel free to call the Fare For All office at 763-450-3880 or visit our website at www.fareforall.org to find one closest to you.
Meals on Wheels
Meals on Wheels delivers hot, nutritious meals at lunchtime, Monday through Friday, to homebound, elderly, and disabled individuals in the Twin Cities. There are 40 Meals on Wheels programs in the seven county Twin Cities metro area that are members of Metro Meals on Wheels. Each program serves a designated geographic area. Click here to learn more about how to get meals delivered.
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program Education (SNAP-Ed)
SNAP-Ed is FREE nutrition education for SNAP (formerly Food Support)-eligible clients delivered by community nutrition educators from the University of Minnesota Extension and Minnesota Chippewa Tribe. SNAP-Ed is offered in every Minnesota county and on six reservations. Community nutrition educators use science-based, behaviorally-focused curriculum to help Minnesotans with limited financial resources stretch food dollars and make healthy choices. The program also teaches the importance of a quality diet, how to prepare healthy meals with quick and easy recipes, and encourages a physically active lifestyle. Programming is offered in a variety of settings including county human services offices, WorkForce Centers, food shelves, Community Action Agencies, WIC clinics, senior citizen centers, schools, and Head Start/child care centers.
The University of Minnesota Extension provide SNAP-Ed programming in Minnesota counties. To find your local contact call 612-625-7070 or click here.
Minnesota Chippewa tribes provide SNAP-Ed programming on seven reservations (Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, Red Lake and White Earth. To learn more, contact Amy Doyle at 651-431-4939 or amy.doyle@state.mn.us
NAPS (Nutritional Assistance for Program Seniors)
NAPS is the name for the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). With NAPS, qualifying older Minnesota adults receive a free, USDA supplemental food package every month. Each package includes a nutritious balance of shelf-stable foods, plus reduced fat cheese. A typical monthly food package is valued at about 455 and includes canned fruits and vegetables, juice, dry and shelf stable milk, American cheese, canned meat, peanut butter, or dried beans, cereal, rice or pasta.
Minnesota residents may qualify for NAPS if:
- You are age 60 or older
- Your gross income meets NAPS guidelines (about the same as qualifying for SNAP benefits)
- You do not live in a facility that provides meals
NAPS is distributed at more than 200 sites around Minnesota each month. To learn if you qualify, please call 651-484-8241 or toll free 1-800-365-0270. Click here to find out more information.