Many Minnesotans and local community members are at a loss of how to support their most vulnerable neighbors during this time of uncertainty.

At VEAP, we’re committed to prioritizing the health and safety of our participants, volunteers and staff while also continuing to provide food and other services to the hundreds of visitors who rely on our programs—particularly so during these extraordinary circumstances. In the coming weeks, we’re projecting great demand for our services as families face increased financial instability.

Here’s how you can help:

Donate money. With ever-shifting inventory at our Food Pantry, a financial gift gives us the flexibility we need to purchase the items we most need in the moment. While we will never turn away a food or basic needs donation, every $100 donated allows us to feed 30 people for an entire week!

Start a Facebook Fundraiser for VEAP. It’s easy and free for you and VEAP. Get your friends and family engaged in supporting the fight against hunger.

Select VEAP your charity of choice on Amazon Smile. Support us every time you place an order on Amazon. Visit smile.amazon.com and select VEAP as your charity of choice. Then bookmark the Amazon Smile page and use it every time you make an order. VEAP will get a percentage back from all your purchases!

Donate food. If your family stocked up on toilet paper, cleaning supplies, or shelf-stable products (like whole grain cereals, pasta, low-sodium soups) and you have more than you can use, please consider donating some to VEAP. We can help pass along these items to families who don’t have the means to shop ahead or stock up on items. Simply drive around to the pick of our building at 9600 Aldrich Avenue South to drop off your donation.

Hold a Food & Fund Drive. Local businesses and organizations are stepping up for their community and holding drives with their employees and supporters. We are actively accepting food at our warehouse and welcome bulk donations of all kinds! Please register your Food Drive here.

Get others involved. Many are asking how they can help support their neighbors in need during this crisis. If you have extra food items or cash on hand to spare, it’s possible your families and friends do, too. Please share this page in your Facebook groups, Next Door neighborhood, virtual bulletin boards, or anywhere else that will help us spread the word about how people can help support each other.

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 pull through this by pulling together. Thank you for your support!