VEAP is taking proactive measures amid Coronavirus spread. At this time we are adjusting our operations to a drive-up model. Learn more.
On-site Food Pantry
VEAP provides access to high quality, healthy, and fresh foods for individuals, families, children, and seniors experiencing hunger or food insecurity. In 2019, we distributed over 4.3 million pounds of food (half of which was produce!) to nearly 135,000 people.
VEAP’s On-site Food Pantry offers a visitor-choice model, meaning when you visit the pantry, you are able to select the food you know your family will use and enjoy. Receive up to 18 household visits per year, including 12 monthly full pantry visits and 6 supplemental produce visits (produce plus 10 items from the non-perishable, meats, dairy and eggs section). VEAP offers a variety of fresh foods, including fruits and vegetables, an assortment of meats, and dairy, as well as basic food staples, like rice, beans, cereals, and canned products, daily.
Please note that visits to our On-site Food Pantry are scheduled by phone. Call 952.888.9616 x 100 to make an appointment. Most appointments are scheduled within one business day of your initial call. If you are new to VEAP, you have the opportunity to meet with a member of VEAP’s Social Services team to learn more about other supportive services that are available to you and your family.
Mobile Food Pantry
VEAP’s Mobile Food Pantry provides access to fresh vegetables, fruit, dairy, and deli items at several convenient locations and times throughout each month. With seven regular stops throughout Bloomington, Richfield, Edina, and Fort Snelling, you can easily access your basic food essentials plus fresh produce and other healthy foods. See our event calendar for up-to-date site information. Everyone is welcome!
Transportation Assistance
VEAP understands that transportation is often a barrier to accessing healthy food. If you or a family member do not have access to a car or are unable to ride the bus, our VEAP volunteers provide rides home directly from our On-site Food Pantry to ensure you make it home safely with all your groceries. Please let our intake staff know that you will need a ride home when you call to make your appointment. All rides must be pre-scheduled.
VEAP also provides food deliveries to individuals with limited mobility. VEAP volunteers pack and deliver food five days a week, playing an important role in helping seniors and those with disabilities live independently and remain stable in their housing.
Additionally, VEAP offers a senior shuttle, a partnership with designated senior housing and assisted living facilities to shuttle residents to and from our On-site Food Pantry, assuring seniors’ access to healthy foods.
Nutrition Education
Not sure how to use up all the fresh fruit and vegetables you get at VEAP? Consider joining one of our nutrition education and cooking classes! In small groups of 10 – 15 people, you will learn how to cook simple, delicious recipes, create a meal plan, shop on a budget, and prioritize healthy food choices. Courses range from one to eight weeks in duration and are typically two hours in length. For more detailed information see our classes page.
Student Food Packs
When students leave school for the weekend, they shouldn’t have to worry about not knowing where their next meal will come from. VEAP partners with Bloomington, Richfield, and Edina school districts to discretely distribute nutritious Student Food Packs every Friday throughout the school year, to children who don’t have enough to eat over the weekend. Please check with your child’s school to learn more. For any additional questions, connect with Dave Rannow, VEAP’s Distribution Coordinator at 952.955.8309.
Birthday Bags
Is your little one celebrating a birthday? Let our front desk staff know when you check-in for your On-site Food Pantry visit and receive a special birthday bag! Birthday Bags are available during the month of your child’s birthday and include party supplies, cake mix, candles, and a small gift.
Help VEAP make sure kids have happy birthdays! We are seeking donations of small gift items for our birthday bags. Because participants come from many backgrounds, we ask that no gifts of a religious nature be donated. All items must be new. Please feel free to drop off donations at the back of our building at Door 4 or you may consider making a gift online now, and make a note that your donation is designated for our birthday bag program in the “in honor of” section.
Don’t miss adding VEAP as your Amazon Smile charity recipient as well! We’ll earn a portion of every dollar you spend on any purchases.
GIFT SUGGESTIONS
| AGES 1 TO 5
Board, picture books Coloring books Crayons Dolls Play-Doh Stuffed animals Small puzzles, games Bubbles (spring/summer) Sidewalk chalk |
AGES 6 TO 12
Chapter books Small games/travel games Small puzzles, games Legos Crafts Hot Wheels Yo-yos, jump ropes Action figures, dolls Jewelry, nail polish |
