Food Support

Angel Food Ministries

By buying food from first rate suppliers at substantial volume discounts, Angel Food Ministries is able to provide families with approximately $65 worth of quality nutritious food for $30. http://www.angelfoodministries.com/

Bridge to Benefits

Bridge to Benefits is a multi-state project by Children’s Defense Fund Minnesota to improve the well-being of families and individuals by linking them to public work support programs and tax credits. A section is included on the School Meal Program (Free/Reduced-Price School Breakfast and Lunch) explaining who is eligible for free/reduced school breakfast and lunch: Children attending public and private schools grades K-12. All foster children can get free meals. If your family is getting help from Food Support (stamps), MFIP, or FDPIR (Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations), you can get free meals. Otherwise, if you are not on these programs, your family has to have an income below the limits to get help. Some families can get free meals and others can get a reduced (lower) price on their meals. The most you currently pay for a reduced-price lunch is 40 cents. You may also be eligible for busing, field trips, after school enrichment classes, athletics and summer programs sponsored by the school district. www.bridgetobenefits.org

Emergency Foodshelf Network

The mission of the Emergency Foodshelf Network is to provide high quality food and essential support services to hunger relief programs in the community. Search by county. www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/

FARE For All (formerly Fare Share)

Fare For All stands for Food And Resource Exchange and is a non-profit volunteer-based cooperative food-buying program that allows people to stretch their food purchasing power. Two hours of community service, benefiting someone else or your community entitles you to purchase a monthly food package consisting of fresh meats, fruits and vegetables and other grocery items. The savings is up to 40% to 50% one would pay at their local grocery store. This program is in several states. There are no income requirements. Phone: 763-450-3880 or 1-800-582-4291. www.emergencyfoodshelf.org/ourfamilyofprograms/ffa

 Food Coop

The Coop Directory Service is an online source of information about natural food co-ops

www.coopdirectory.org/

Food Support (Previously called food stamp program)

Food support is a program that helps people with lower incomes pay for nutritious food, which helps kids to grow up strong and helps adults to stay healthy. Food Support does not pay for all the food that a person or a family needs each month, just some of it. The Food Support program is administered by the Minnesota Department of Human Services but eligibility and case management is done by county human services departments. Food Support is the name of Food Stamps in Minnesota. We don’t call the program “Food Stamps” anymore because you don’t get stamps to buy food. You get a card. As of October 1, 2008, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) is the new name for the federal Food Stamp Program.

 Food Shelves

On the top of the page is a path “Click Here to Find Emergency Food.” This will take you to Hunger Solutions: A Statewide Partnership of Organizations Fighting Hunger. www.mnhungerpartners.org/

 You can look up locations of Foodshelf, Meals on Wheels, Summer Feeding, Food Support Office, WIC. Use the search criteria to find a location near you. www.hungersolutions.org/find Phone: 651-486-9860

 Minnesota Food Helpline

Launched in June 2009 by Hunger Solutions Minnesota (HSM), the Minnesota Food Helpline provides a vital service to Minnesotans at risk for hunger. The multilingual staff will help enroll low-income Minnesotans in the Food Support (Food Stamps) program and help callers find emergency food assistance in their area. No one in Minnesota should go hungry. If you, your family or someone you know are having difficulty making ends meet, please call the helpline at 1-888-711-1151. www.hungersolutions.org/