After closing our lake cabin for the season we had way too many pantry items. I had never donated…read morehere before but very happy that I found a place that helps to end hunger locally (serving Dakota County). I will be back as the process was easy and fuss-free.

Sheridan Story is AWESOME...and just renamed themselves Every Meal. Now they aren't named after a…read moreschool that's named after an awful old dead white guy. If you volunteer here, you will likely stand by a table and put canned goods in a bag and then push the bag down the line. That's what we did for 2 hours, and it was fun and fast and upbeat! We were in a large warehouse and the garage doors were open bc it was warm. But had the doors been closed, I would have felt Covid safe bc of the size of the room and our ability to distance and of course we all had masks on. Every Meal gives food to kids all over the metro. It's totally cool. I took my teen and little one. You have to be 8 to volunteer here but I think a lot of 8 year olds would not have the endurance for a 2 hour shift.

The Bloomington Lutheran Church is the site for once a month food pick up donations to stretch your…read morebudget You donate $25 per bundle in advance to get a time slot. Rubys Pantrycan be looked up on line for a site near you. They span several states and get food through corporate donors. It was well organized with traffic directors and people going to each car to check you in and put a post it on your windshield as to how many bundles you paid for. For $50. I got a trunk full of breads, milk, eggs, wraps, taco shells, whole grain bread,oranges, cookies, snack items, frappe mix, fresh tomatoes. Mashed potatoes. Potatoe salad, beef broth,yogurt bars, a jelly roll cake, whole grain bread and other items. Caring helpful volunteers who loaded cats. It was a humbling experience seeing people lined up for rows to be served.

VEAP provides an incredibly necessary community service. I go to VEAP once a month to get food and…read morethey provide "an abundance of groceries" absolutely free. Fish fillets, ground beef, fruits, vegetables, grains, bread, canned foods, frozen foods, sauces, pastries, butter, even sometimes toilet paper, paper towels and napkins. I'm not sure how they've managed to grow to become such an inspirational and clearly imperative service to the community but having been here in Minnesota for more than 20 years may explain it in part. It also requires dedicated and responsible volunteers that work with a smile for everyone that comes through the door. I'd give VEAP 10 Stars or more if I could. We get between 15 and 30 full, well balanced meals for 2 people every month! As an aside, I don't believe any of VEAP's policies could be considered overreach and if you use VEAP and are amazed at what you get for free and feel that VEAP makes you feel deserving and proud, take the time to leave a review!

The individual who assisted me was amazing. She understood my needs and assisted with just that. I…read morehighly recommend their services!

Had the opportunity to volunteer here a few days ago with SGAD who was celebrating their 15th…read morebirthday, so it was extra special. We were able to hear a bit about The Food Group's mission & how they operate. We packaged elbow macaroni which was pretty chill. The facility was clean & organized! I liked that the stations were spaced out a bit with 3-4 people at each station (which would vary depending on group sizes). Overall a great experience & would highly recommend as a place to volunteer! Very friendly staff!

From the owner: The Food Group is a local nonprofit focused on using nutritious food to strengthen community. We…read morework at the intersection of food access, equity, and nutrition issues related to food and hunger in 32 counties in Minnesota and Wisconsin. We break down barriers to growing good food locally and getting good food to those who need it most.

Super easy to donate food. They have a dedicated door for food donations. Staff are welcoming and…read morefriendly. They offer lots of services beyond food such as clothing, housing help, etc.

From the owner: CROSS Services provides emergency and support services--food, clothing, housing assistance, and…read moremore--to people experiencing financial hardship. More than simply addressing immediate crises, CROSS is committed to working closely with families as they move toward long-term stability. CROSS serves several communities in northwestern Hennepin County, and works collaboratively with other organizations to provide wrap-around support for families in need. Hundreds of volunteers give thousands of hours to make it possible for CROSS to serve more than 14,000 individuals annually. An established non-profit with a forty-four year history of service in the community, CROSS Services responsibly stewards donations to maximize impact.