Food Programs

The Food Programs at East Side Neighborhood Services secure food support for those who may have difficulty accessing traditional food shelves or grocery stores. These programs serve over 3,300 Hennepin County households, providing fresh, nutritious food as well as referrals to other resources.

Our High Rise Mobile Food Shelf has returned to our client choice shopping model in the community rooms of all 47 buildings we deliver to. Call 612-791-4492 with any questions.

The Glendale Food Shelf is open Monday & Thursday, 11 am-4 pm and Tuesday & Wednesday 1-6 pm. Glendale Food Shelf is operated in partnership with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority.

Our Senior Food Shelf is open 9:30 am-1 pm (12:45PM last call) Monday-Friday with client choice shopping. Masks and social distancing are required. We will continue to provide home delivery – call 612-788-9521 to schedule.

Monetary donations are the most effective way to support our food shelves. By collaborating with food banks, restaurants, and stores, East Side is able to use your contributions to purchase food at a much lower price than what grocery stores charge.

High Rise Mobile Food Shelf

By bringing fresh food directly to 47 low-income apartment buildings across Hennepin County, the High Rise Mobile Food Shelf ensures that those without transportation to a brick-and-mortar grocery store still have access to nutritional support. We deliver food to over 3,800 participants, primarily older adults and people with disabilities.

Over 40% of the food that we deliver is fresh fruits and vegetables. We also regularly deliver meat, eggs, bread, milk and other dairy products, and a variety of non-perishable food items. We deliver enough food so that each participant can receive at least 20 pounds — and often more.

See a list of our current Mobile Food Shelf sites [PDF]

Most sites receive a delivery twice a month. Over 300 residents volunteer to receive the food, set up the food shelf in the building's community room, and distribute it to their neighbors.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Income must be at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines (self-declared)

• Complete and sign annual enrollment form providing name and, address of the head of household. Your signature provides verification that you meet income guidelines.

For more information, please contact 612-791-4492. If you live in one of the buildings that we service, we can tell you when our next delivery will be and how you can sign up.

Senior Food Shelf

For 34 years, the Senior Food Shelf has provided a place where older adults can feel comfortable seeking food assistance and have their unique nutritional needs met. Last year, we provided over 201,000 pounds of food to 2,006 individuals.

Dedicated staff and volunteers help each visitor “shop” for their choice of fresh produce, meat, bread, and shelf-stable foods. Participants may visit once per month and receive 25 pounds of food each time. Pet food and hygiene items are also provided when available.

ELIGIBILITY:

• Participants in the Senior Food Self must be 55 years or older

• Meet income guidelines, at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines. (self-declared, written verification of income is not required).

• On your first visit, you will need to fill out and sign a form providing your name and address. Your signature provides verification that you meet income guidelines. You’ll be issued a number and when it is your turn, staff will guide you through the shopping area to choose the items that you would like to bring home.

LOCATION:

We are hosted by the Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA) in the Parker Skyview apartment building.

1801 Central Ave NE
Minneapolis, MN 55413

HOURS:

Monday-Friday: 9:30 am - 1:00 pm, (12:45PM last call)
Saturday-Sunday: closed

Can’t make it to the food shelf in person? Call 612-788-9521 to make an appointment for delivery if you are homebound. 

VOLUNTEERS:

We are always looking for volunteers able to take on a regular morning or afternoon shift to assist participants with their shopping. You can fill out a volunteer application [PDF]. 

For more information, please call 612-788-9521.

Glendale Food Shelf

Located in the Prospect Park neighborhood of Minneapolis, the Glendale Food Shelf provides food support to families living in Glendale Town Homes.

We opened the food shelf in 2009, in partnership with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority (MPHA), and with additional support from Hennepin County, faith communities, businesses, and community organizations. 

Glendale Food Shelf supplies a wide variety of food items, including fresh fruits and vegetables and culturally-specific foods that are staples to the diets of community members. Each family member is eligible to receive a monthly allocation of 25 pounds of food. Participants can shop multiple times during the month until the total household food allocation is reached.

Eligibility:

• Income must be at or below 300% of federal poverty guidelines (self-declared)

• Participants are required to complete an enrollment form providing name and address of the head of household.

Location:

92 St. Mary's Ave. SE
Minneapolis, MN 55414

Hours:

Monday & Thursday:  11:00 am - 4:00 pm
Tuesday & Wednesday:  1:00 - 6:00 pm
Closed on Friday

For more information, please contact us at 612-342-1954.

Partnerships

• Food Banks:  Second Harvest Heartland, The Food Group

• Food Donors: Target (Quarry), Target Express (Dinkytown), Cub Foods (Quarry), Whole Foods (Edina and Calhoun), Lunds & Byerlys (NE), Sentyrz Market, PepsiCo, Pepperidge Farm

• Funding: Hennepin County, Greater Twin Cities United Way, Hunger Solutions, Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless, Minnesota FoodShare, Emergency Food and Shelter Program

• Housing Organizations that Host our Programs: Minneapolis Public Housing Authority, CommonBond Communities, Aeon, Volunteers of America, Premier Housing Management, Ebenezer, Sholom, Nath Companies, Trinity Lutheran Church (Minneapolis), Calvary Lutheran Church (Golden Valley), AHEPA, Avinity, Ecumen

Federal Civil Rights Law and USDA Statement:

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA.

Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English.

To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) [PDF] found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by: Mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; Fax: (202) 690-7442; or Email: program.intake@usda.gov.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.