Call us!
We are here to help. Please call us at 952.888.9616 to schedule an appointment to visit our Food Pantry or simply to speak with a licensed social worker.
Food & Basic Needs
Food Pantry
One of the largest in Minnesota, VEAP’s Food Pantry provides 2.7 million meals to community members in need of healthy food support. VEAP focuses on access to nutritious foods, distributing over 3.6 million pounds of food (more than half vegetables and fruits!) with a goal of positively impacting the health and success of the community.
Rides Home from the Pantry
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.
Shuttles for Seniors
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.
Healthy Cooking Classes
VEAP organizes cooking courses that help families shop for and cook healthy meals on a budget. Classes are held in VEAP’s commercial and teaching kitchen onsite and are free to attend. Participants will receive recipes and groceries after each class. Class participants must be eligible for VEAP programs and be 18 years of age or older. To learn more or to register for the next available class series, call 952.888.9616 or email us at NEAT@veap.org.
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.
Weekend Food Pack Program
No child should go hungry during the weekend simply because they’re not in school. The Student Hunger Collaborative provides over 6,000 healthy weekend food packs to students in local schools who are identified as at-risk of being hungry over the weekend. This partnership between VEAP, local school districts, and District 5950 Rotarians assures children’s food needs are met so they come back to school on Mondays ready to learn.
Mobile Food Pantry
Our mobile food pantry allows us to bring fresh produce and other healthy foods directly to people in seven different sites throughout our service area. All are welcome at the VEAP Mobile Food Pantry! Click here to see our distribution areas.
Social Services
VEAP offers caring, professional support to help you stabilize your financial situation and create an individualized plan to access resources. You will work with a licensed social worker to identify the steps to take to improve your financial situation.
- Emergency financial assistance
- Emergency bus passes or gas cards
- Information and referrals
- Advocacy
- Special food pantry visits
