Social Services, Food and Holiday Supports

top-view-ingredient-food-with-vegetables-and-fruits

Social Services

Bridge to Benefits

Offers a free screening tool online to determine if you may be eligible for a variety of public work support programs. Examples: Free and Reduce Lunch, Tax Credits, Child Care Assistance, Medical Assistance, Energy Assistance. They also have a FAQ page for each program with helpful information. Site is offered in English and Spanish.

CAP-HC (Community Action Partnership of Hennepin County)

Energy assistance, home ownership services, rental support services, homeless services, food support, tax assistance, legal service clinics, community development, financial services and MNSure application assistance

Bloomington Office
1101 East 78th Street, Suite 110
Bloomington, MN 55420
952-933-9639

Hennepin County Economic Supports: Food/Cash/Emergency/ Child Care Assistance & Housing Support Programs

Food, cash, emergency and child care assistance and housing support are are provided to help eligible families and individuals meet their basic needs until they can support themselves. Learn More

Apply Online: Hennepin County is now using the new and improved MNBenefits.com application. Easy, convenient and available in multiple languages.

Call: Hennepin County Staff are ready to answer questions or walk through your application process. We’re available to take calls Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., at 612-596-1300.

Submit Documents: Already applied?

Upload: MNBenefits.com
Email hhsews@hennepin.us
Fax to 612-288-2981
Mail to: Hennepin County Human Services Dept. P.O. Box 107 Minneapolis, MN 55440
If people don’t have access to these options, there are document drop boxes available at any Hennepin County Human Service Center

Hennepin South Suburban Hub: 9600 Aldrich Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55420
612-596-1300

VEAP (Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People)

Provides a range of services including a Food Pantry, Mobile Pantry, and Social Services to help low-income people meet immediate needs and reach their long-term goal of stability. Serves residents of Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and South Minneapolis. Rental Assistance Applications open the 28th of each month.

9600 Aldrich Avenue South
Bloomington, MN 55420
952-888-9616

Veterans LinkAge Line

Support specialists trained through the Minnesota Department of Veterans Affairs (MDVA).

1-888-546-5838

Food Resources

VEAP Food Pantry

VEAP Food Pantry
Monday-Friday
Call for an appointment 952-888-9616 x100

Anyone living in the cities of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield and South Minneapolis zip codes of 55410, 55419, and 55417 is welcome to visit VEAP. No income requirements.

Food Pantry visitors are welcome twice a month. During your visit, you will select from shelf-stable items (like pasta, cereals, canned goods, etc.) as well as meat, dairy, fresh vegetables, fruit and bread. VEAP also provides household items like shampoo, toilet paper, diapers, pet food and more. If you have dietary restrictions, we will try to make every effort to meet your needs. Our inventory is always changing at VEAP, so we cannot promise access to specific items, but we will always try our best to meet your needs.

*If transportation is a barrier, ask about food delivery or a ride home from the pantry.

Para hablar con alguien en español, llame al 952.888.9616 x 1.
Чтобы поговорить с кем-то по-русски, звоните 952.888.9616 x 2.

VEAP Mobile Food Pantry

VEAP’s mobile food pantry allows brings fresh produce and other healthy foods directly to people in our service area. Absolutely everyone is welcome to receive food from the mobile pantry!

Every Friday:

Dar Al-Farooq Islamic Center
8201 Park Avenue South

12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m. or until food runs out. It is best to arrive early, as we tend to run out of items before 2:00 p.m.! If you need additional food, call VEAP at 952-888-9616.

Important parking notification: participants who are not attending prayer or other worship services at DAF are asked to park on the street. Thank you for your cooperation!

Saturdays:
St. Nicks Episcopal Church
7227 Penn Ave S, Richfield

2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. or until food runs out. It is best to arrive early, as we tend to run out of items before 4:00 p.m.

View other Mobile Pantry sites.

Loaves and Fishes

FARE for ALL

Fare for All Mobile Market

Looking for discounted, quality food to purchase? The Food Groups offers two programs – open to everyone. Anyone can take advantage of these savings.

Fare for All

Great way to save money on quality, nutritious food. They buy fresh fruits, vegetables, and frozen meat in bulk to save you up to 40% off grocery store prices. Multiple locations.

Twin Cities Mobile Market

Twin Cities Mobile Market is a grocery store on a bus! The Mobile Market brings affordable, healthy foods right to your neighborhood. Anyone can shop for a full selection of fresh fruits, vegetables, meat, dairy, grains and other high-quality groceries.

The bus visits neighborhoods that don’t have access to full-service supermarkets, grocery stores, or food shelves.

Twin-Cities-Mobile-Market - Northside Fresh

Monthly Food Distributions

Free Food Distributions – Open 1 or 2 days per month

Sanneh Foundation program – Multiple locations throughout the metro

Programs by Good In the Hood:

Food Shelf-In-A-Box at Bethany Church
- 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month: 2:00pm–5:00pm
- 6900 Auto Club Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438
Food Shelf-In-A-Box at Hennepin Technical College Eden Prairie
- 1st Tuesday of each month: 3:00pm-5:00pm
- 13100 College View Dr, Eden Prairie, MN 55347

Drive up for curbside or walk up and pick up. Volunteers will load your car. Click Here for more info on Foodshelf in a Box program of Good In the Hood.

Food in the ‘Hood at Cedar Valley

1st and 3rd Tuesday of month from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Cedar Valley Church
8600 Bloomington Ave S, Bloomington, MN 55425

Food in the ‘Hood at Sanctuary Haven

Every Wednesday/Thursday from 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m
- Sanctuary Covenant Church
- 710 W. Broadway, Minneapolis, MN 55411

Click here for more information on Food in the ‘Hood, program of Good In the Hood

WIC

WIC (Women, Infants, Children), Bloomington Public Health (Bloomington, Edina, Richfield Residents)

Designed to improve health for women and young children, and help families make positive nutrition and health decisions and help to put more fresh and healthy food on the table.

952-563-8993

WIC (Women, Infants, Children)- Hennepin County (not Bloomington, Edina, Richfield Residents)

Designed to improve health for women and young children, and help families make positive nutrition and health decisions and help to put more fresh and healthy food on the table

612-348-6100.

SNAP

Hunger Solutions

Holiday Supports - How to receive help and how to help others

Toy Drive Collections

Toys for Tots

Collection sites in Edina (as of 12/06/2023)– Donate by December 18

55435: Livea, AVEDA, Legacy Toys Southdale, First Bank & Trust, Wings Credit Union, Walser Automotive Group, Kiddie Academy of Edina, WSH,
55436: Comcast/Xfinity, Avidor Edina,
55439: Nicholas Jordan Agency, Edina Public Schools- Transportation , Wooden Hill Brewing Company, Emanuelson Podas, Minuteman Press Edina,
55424: Edina Police Department & Fire Station 1

Salvation Army Toy Drive: The Salvation Army Northern Division Headquarters

Adopt A Family with Salvation Army

Good In the Hood Adopt a Family

FamilyWise Adopt A Family

Avivo Adopt a Family

Catholic Charities Giving Tree

Salvation Army - Toy Shop 2023 (Registration Closed)

Salvation Army- Toy Shop 2023 – Registration Closed

Eligibility: Residents of 10 county metro area (including Hennepin county residents). with children ages 0-14 with whom they have custody.

Anticipated 2023 Registration Dates: Nov 1-Dec 1 . It is advised to register ASAP as they may close registration earlier

https://centralusa.salvationarmy.org/twin-cities/toy-shop/

You will be asked to upload documents with your registration:
Parents must have custody of the children and provide Proof of address, picture ID of adult picking –up and an ID for each child (ex: medical card, birth certificate, school ID, social security card etc.)

Volunteers & Donations are needed for the 2023 Toy Shop

2023 Toy Programs - Available by County

Be sure to look at the service area (city or county) before contacting the program.

For additional support finding a program near you, contact UNITED WAY HELP LINE at 651-291-0211, text your zip code to 898-211 or visit 211UnitedWay.org

2023 Toy Programs - Open to All

Holiday Adoption Programs

We’re Doing Our Own Thing (WDO2T) – Toys for Tots Program

Address: 3800 American Boulevard West Bloomington, MN 55431
Phone: (844)210-9100
Email: Msbirdie@wdo2t.com
Serves: Residents of Anoka, Carver, Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey, Scott, and Washington counties
Eligibility: Families with children ages birth – 12 years
Intake: Visit website to register. Must sign in to email to register. Must include first and last name of the parent, email, address, phone number, name of the child, identify the child’s gender, age, and favorite toy.
Distribution: Will be provided once registration is approved
Description: Holiday Toys for Tots program

North Side Blessings – Adopt A Family

Serves: Open to all families, adults without children, elderly, veterans, homeless, group home residents, people with special needs, etc., that want to be adopted
Registration:
- Now until program is full.
- New applicants or families that have not applied in previous years are encouraged to apply until October 15, 2023. Families that have applied before can apply after October 16, 2023.
- Visit Facebook website to register; must sign in to Google Forms. Send an email to northsideblessings17@gmail.com with any questions or difficulties with registering.
- No guarantee to be adopted. Only submit one request. If selected, family will receive an ID number. Must be open to direct contact. Must respond to adopters within 48 hours.
- If in a domestic violence situation, can remain anonymous but must be verified.
Documentation: Must provide a medical card or benefits letter from county with parent/guardian and childs(rens) information. Must be legal parent or have legal guardianship of child(ren).

Holiday Gifts/Toys

Closed: Les Jolies Petites School – Toys for Tots

Real Believers Faith Center 2010 Fremont Avenue North Minneapolis, MN 55411
Email: shaywatson1@aol.com
Serves: Open to all families
Intake: Email to register. Send an email with the parents/guardians full name and address, a phone number, and their children’s name, age, and birthday.
Registration: Monday, October 23 – Wednesday, November 1
Documents: Parent/guardian full name and address, phone number, and children’s name, age, and birthdays
Distribution: Families will be provided the information once approved
Description: Holiday Toys for Tots program

NuWay Missionary Baptist Church – Toys for Tots

Address: 1530 Russell Avenue North, Minneapolis
Phone: (612)229-7741
Email: Jawhelper@yahoo.com
Serves: Open to all
Registration: Starts December 12 until full
Intake: Email
Distribution: TBD
Description: Toys for Tots holiday gift program for children of any age

Shiloh Temple International Ministries – Toys for Tots

1201 W Broadway, Minneapolis 55411
(612)302-1463
Serves: Open to all
Registration: November 1 – until registration is full; call and leave message with contact information, name, address, number of children, gender and ages. Distribution information will be provided when registered.
Description: Toys for Tots holiday gift program for children ages birth – 14 years old

Closed: Q-Dac – Toys for Tots Christmas Party-

Address: North Commons Park, 1800 James Avenue North, Minneapolis 55411
Serves: Open to all
Registration: Now until full; register online
Distribution: December 16
Description Toys For Tots; children ages birth – 15

Thanksgiving Meals - Baskets

2023 Thanksgiving Meal Baskets Lottery- Nov 8 deadline 4:00pm

Rotary Clubs of Edina (Noon and Morningside) are generously offering a limited number of Thanksgiving Meal Baskets for Edina Public School families.
Click here for Sign up info. Deadline to sign-up for the lottery is Nov 8. Thanksgiving Baskets 2023 Flyer.

Click here for 211- United Way’s list of Thanksgiving Programs in Hennepin County

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