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Food banks and pantries in Minnesota

Updated October 21, 2025 • 8 min read • 1,607 words
Focus Immediate Financial Assistance

Food banks, shelves and emergency food pantries Minnesota.

The state of Minnesota has many food pantries, distribution centers, government benefits, and non-profit food banks that will provide help to low-income families or people with no money. There are free groceries to people who are faced with a hardship situation or emergency. Each and every year thousands of individuals receive free groceries, meals, and food. Locate a free food bank that will be near you in MN below. Some of the distribution centers or drive thru food pantries listed below may have other items as well, such as clothing, holiday gifts or summer snacks for students out of school. Hot meals are often provided too. There is also a referral phone number at the bottom of the page for information on other free, emergency food pantries in MN near you. Get information below on some of the largest non-profit organizations in the area. These are the leading food banks and pantries in Minnesota. Note some are called food shelves, bu that is the same as a pantry. Most of them work closely with local charities that may be located closer to your home. For example they may partner with churches, organizations like the Salvation Army, and other agencies. So feel free to call them to get referred to another local agency. Most counties also have a large number of other financial assistance programs. Ask a pantry or food shelve center below in order to get information for resources in your county. This can include welfare, SNAP food stamps, and other government aid. Learn more on SNAP benefits .

Local free food pantries and food shelves in MN near you

While some of the main food banks are listed here, each town, county, and region across the state of Minnesota has their own local non-profit centers on site. The assistance provided is local and will generally only help people in the immediate area. Get more information on low income food assistance, meals, and programs for children in your community. Or find more locations below this list.

Anoka County

Dakota County

Hennepin County

Olmsted County

Ramsey County

St. Louis County

Stearns County

Washington County

Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank

is part of the Feeding America Network. They provide support in many northern parts of MN, including the counties of Carlton, Cook, Lake, and St. Louis County MN. A wide range of programs are offered in partnership with corporations, charities, churches and others. Low-income families can get help from Mobile Pantries or use a free food pantry for fresh produce or dairy. They help with applications to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as well as US commodity services. Get groceries, hot meals, home delivery and more. The main site is at 4503 Airpark Boulevard, Duluth, MN 55811. Call 218.727.5653

North Country Food Bank

, Inc. operates a number of assistance programs for low-income families, the elderly, veterans and disabled (among others) in their service territory. Programs include School and Free Family Pantries, SNAP Outreach Program, Health and Nutrition workshops, and even shopping classes. They offer information such as coupons and tips on unit pricing. Or they help shoppers use apps to save money on grocery shopping . All this is in addition to free food passed out daily. The counties served include Becker, Beltrami, Clearwater, Douglas, Grant, Hubbard, Kittson. They also work with partner pantries in Lake Of The Woods, Mahnomen, Marshall, Norman, Otter Tail, Pennington, Polk, Pope, Red Lake, Roseau, Stevens, Traverse, Wadena, and Wilkin. The main location is 1011 11th Ave. NE, East Grand Forks, MN 56721. Call 218.399.7356

Second Harvest North Central Food

Bank is based at 2222 Cromell Drive, Grand Rapids, MN 55744. Call 218.326.4420. They work with hundreds of local partners and pantries in the counties of Aitkin, Cass, Crow Wing, Itasca, Kanabec, Koochiching, as well as Mille Lacs. Based on resources, there may be free groceries, Meals on Wheels programs, or surplus commodity items. A free pet food banks (for dog and cat food) as well as other aid is offered, including Summer Feeding Program for kids out of school.

  • toll free hotline

can provide residents with assistance as well. The non-profit agency known as Hunger Solutions runs it, and clients can receive referrals to local food shelves, soup kitchens, and more. Staff will advocate to ensure families and children have the low cost, healthy food they need, and the support team at the hot line can help in other ways. This can include referrals to benefits such as SNAP food stamps and other public aid. Find more details on

Hunger Solutions in Minnesota

.

Second Harvest Heartland

serves the most counties in Minnesota. The Feeding America locations, and its hundreds of partners, provide everything from applications toCommodity Supplemental Food Program to USDA food stamps. There are also free hygiene supplies, baby formula programs, National Produce Program and much more. The Main office is at 7101 Winnetka Avenue N., Brooklyn Park, MN 55428. Call 651.484.5117. The service area includes the counties of Anoka, Benton, Big Stone, Blue Earth, Brown, Carver, Chippewa, Chisago, Cottonwood, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Jackson, Kandiyohi, Lac Qui Parle, Le Sueur, Lincoln, Lyon, Mc Leod, Martin, Meeker, Morrison, Murray as well as Nicollet. The Heartland location also supports single mothers, the elderly and others in Nobles, Pine, Pipestone, Ramsey, Redwood, Renville, Rock, Scott, Sherburne, Sibley, Stearns, Swift, Todd, Washington, Watonwan, Wright, Yellow Medicine, Barron, Buffalo, Burnett, Chippewa, Clark, Dunn, Eau Claire, Jackson, Pepin, Pierce, Polk, Price, Rusk, St. Croix, Sawyer, Taylor, Trempealeau, and Washburn County.

Channel One Food Bank

is based at 131 35th Street, SE, Rochester, MN 55904. They work with charities, churches and social service offices in Dodge, Faribault, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Waseca, and Winona County. In addition to free, shelf stable food they also provide Kids’ BackPack Program as well as applications to USDA meals. There is also the Mobile Pantry, the GROW Up with Good Nutrition Initiative as well as FOODRx, which is for the disabled. A central ktchen also serves free hot meals. Call 507.287.2350.

Great Plains Food Bank

mostly assists ND, but Clay County Minnesota residents can use it too. The location is 1720 3rd Avenue North, Fargo, ND 58102. Call 701.232.6219. Provides support to food pantries in towns and cities across the border region of

Friend in Need Food Shelf

535 4th St, Saint Paul Park, MN 55071. Dial the center at (651) 458-0730 Call this center for help. Volunteers and full time staff on site can direct individuals to local food programs, refer them to government aid, and assist them in dealing with emergency situations. Provides free food, canned goods, fruits, and other needed items to the capital region.

Acbc Emergency Food Shelf

2615 9th Ave, Anoka, Minnesota 55303 . Call (763) 422-0046 House of Charity 510 S. 8th St., Minneapolis, MN 55421. Main number is 612-594-2000 The non-profit supports other charities and pantries in the region. They may have referrals and other general support.

Princeton Pantry

104 6th Ave S., Princeton, Minnesota 55371. Phone - (763) 631-3578

Hunger Solutions Minnesota

Location is 555 Park St Ste 400, Saint Paul, MN 55103. Dial (651) 486-9860

Fare For All

8501 54th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55428. Dial (763) 450-3860

Walker Food Shelves

Address is 8243 Industrial Park Rd NW, Walker, MN 56484. Dial - (218) 547-1713 Some of what can be provided includes fruits, vegetables, frozen foods, and other meal items.

Bemidji Community Food Shelf

1260 Exchange Ave SE, Bemidji, MN 56601. Dial (218) 444-6580

Saint Vincent Depaul - Catholic Church

2443 Commerce Blvd., Mound - MN, 55364. Call (952) 472-1284 This is one of the local social service agencies in the region. Food, limited financial help for bills, and much more is provided.

Feed My Starving Children

401 93rd Ave NW, Coon Rapids, MN 55433. Call 763-504-2919 Free baby formula diapers, baby supplies and more is offered. They have fresh items too.

McLeod Food Shelf

719 13th St E, Glencoe, MN 55336. Call (320) 864-2088

The Food Group - Emergency Foodshelf Network

8501 54th Ave N, Minneapolis, MN 55428. Call 763-450-3860 The charity partners with churches and charities to feed the poor, low-income, and less fortunate. Get free groceries, fruit or vegetables, ingredients and other help.

Groveland Emergency Food Shelf

Main address is 1900 Nicollet Ave, Minneapolis, Minnesota 55403. (612) 871-0277 St. Martin's Table 2001 Riverside Ave. Minneapolis - Minnesota, 55454. Phone - 612-339-3920 Hot meals may be provided to the less fortunate, homeless, and low income.

Basic Needs Inc. Of South Washington County

950 3rd St., St. Paul Park, Minnesota 55071. Call (651)458-9786

Additional Minnesota free food bank locations

To learn about other food assistance programs in the region near you, call the number below. Families can get free food, applications to hunger relief programs such as SNAP or WIC, and they can get the locations of additional food banks from Feeding America in MN . Dial the Minnesota Food Helpline at 1-888-711-1151.