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VEAP

Access to healthy food, social services and housing stability

COVID-19 resources and updates

COVID-19 resources and updates

Last update: May 27, 2021

VEAP has been closely monitoring the recent developments around the coronavirus infection, COVID-19. VEAP remains open, but our model has changed to a drive-up food distribution system and will continue to evolve as needed to prioritize the health and safety of the communities we serve and the staff and volunteers who support them.

We understand these are challenging times and our goal is to remain a resource to our community during this public health event. Please check this page regularly for updates.

Visitors

To ensure your safety and the health of our volunteers and staff, VEAP now utilizes a drive-up system for food distribution and will do so until at least September, 30, 2021. We have doubled the number of times a household can receive food, are distributing more pounds of food to each family, and are making deliveries to seniors who are home-bound and those with limited mobility. Learn more. 

We will continue to depend on our call-ahead appointment system for food distribution. We are open Monday – Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. and have suspended Thursday evening availability indefinitely. To make an appointment to receive food, request rental assistance, or to speak with a member of our Social Services team, please call 952-888-9616. 

Please note that all appointments with our Social Services team, including rental assistance requests, will be conducted over the phone and/or via email for the time being. Access rental assistance program guidelines here.

For COVID-19 specific resources in the state, please visit our updated resource page. For information about Hennepin County resources and services at VEAP, visit here.

Volunteers

We continue to rely on volunteers to support our modified service delivery model during the COVID-19 pandemic. If you are well and do not have vulnerable people at home and have time to share, please join us.

In order to comply with state guidelines on health and safety, we are offering visitors a drive-up model to receive food packs, closing our building and main lobby for public-facing services, suspending ride services, and requiring staff and volunteers to a face covering and to maintain at least 6 feet of distance from each other while at VEAP. Learn more.

  • Masks are required for everyone in the volunteer check-in area
  • Masks are required for everyone in all food operations areas (warehouse, distribution/pantry, outdoor intake)

Given these extraordinary circumstances, we support your decisions, including and up to a decision to temporarily suspend your own volunteering during this uncertain time. Contact Courtney Flug, Volunteer Director, [email protected] or call 952-955-8325 with any additional support you may need: [email protected] or call 952-955-8323.

Donors & Supporters

Even as the pandemic wans, VEAP continues to report great demand for our services as families face an uneven financial recovery from the economic downturn in the service and restaurant industries. We are rising to this challenge and need your help more than ever.

At this time, financial donations have the most impact ($30 feeds an individual three meals a day for a whole month). Food donations are also critical and we are in great need of shelf-stable products (cereals, soup, pasta, etc.) and basic household supplies, like toilet paper and diapers. See our list of most-needed items which is updated frequently.

We are actively accepting these donations around the back of our building. There is no need to make an appointment. Volunteers will pick up your items directly from your vehicle to minimize contact. Our drop-off hours are Monday – Friday from 9:00 – 4:30 p.m.

Our families and neighborhoods are stronger, safer and healthier when we come together in moments of joy and celebration, and of illness and crisis. We will pull through this by pulling together. Thank you for your support!