Food & Basic Needs
On-Site Food Pantry
One of the largest in Minnesota, VEAP’s Food Pantry provides food to community members to make 3 million meals every year. VEAP focuses on access to nutritious foods, distributing over 4.3 million pounds of food (more than half vegetables and fruits!) with a goal of positively impacting the health and success of the community.
Mobile Food Pantry
Our mobile food program provides regular access to fresh vegetables, fruit, bread, dairy and deli items to several convenient locations throughout Bloomington, Richfield, Edina and South Minneapolis. All are welcome at the VEAP Mobile Food Pantry! Click here to see our distribution areas.
Transportation Assistance
We offer rides home from VEAP’s Food Pantry for community members with transportation barriers and who access VEAP by public transit, family, and friends or other transportation options. Over 50% of these rides are for seniors.
Food Deliveries
Volunteers pack and deliver food five days a week to individuals with limited mobility. Home deliveries play an important role in helping seniors and the disabled live independently and remain stable in their housing.
Senior Shuttle
A partnership with living facilities for seniors living on limited incomes who are in need of healthy food support. VEAP shuttles residents to and from VEAP’s Food Pantry, assuring seniors’ nutritious foods needs are being met.
Nutrition Education
Small group (10-15 individuals) nutrition education and cooking courses. Courses include topics such as recipes, meal planning, shopping on a budget, and healthy food choices. Courses range from one to eight weeks in duration and are typically two hours in length. To learn more or to register for the next available class series, call 952.888.9616 or email us at NEAT@veap.org.
Student Food Packs
No child should go hungry during the weekend simply because they’re not in school. This school-year initiative provides weekend food packs for youth attending school in the Edina, Richfield and Bloomington School Districts who are likely to go food-insecure during the weekend.
Birthday Bags
Families with young children celebrating a birthday receive a special birthday bag that includes party supplies and cake mix during their birthday month. Parents also get to select a small gift for their child.
Social Services
Caring, professional support to individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing food insecurity, high-risk of eviction or homelessness, and financial crisis.
Housing Advocacy
Support to maintain safe and stable housing, including communicating with property management, proposing payment arrangements, and guidance to secure affordable housing. Assistance interpreting housing subsidies and housing search tips and tools provided. Help understanding legal rights and responsibilities of renters and property owners and connections to legal professionals when necessary.
Financial Assistance
Limited emergency funds for deposits or rent to help maintain housing stability and prevent homelessness.
Transportation Assistance
Limited financial assistance for car repairs when necessary to maintain employment. Emergency gas cards, bus passes, and Metro Transit reduced fare cards (TAP program) to eligible individuals.
Additional Food Pantry Visits
Extra monthly appointments for food available based on financial need. Eligibility determined by Social Services staff on a case-by-case basis.
Individualized Case Plans
Comprehensive, strengths-based case management and individualized, support. Assistance with safety planning, goal setting, and budgeting.
Resource Navigation and Referrals
Designed to help members of our community understand how to access available resources, meet immediate needs, and work toward long-term, achievable solutions. Culturally responsive, on-site and community-based navigation services, and information and referrals to other vital community supports.
VEAP’s office is co-located with Hennepin County; however, we do not share visitor information with the county nor do we receive information from them.
