Through multiyear partnerships, we provide vital support to meet the nutritional needs of individuals in the nine-county metro. To ensure a strong network of food nonprofits, we provide funding and capacity-building services to partners delivering emergency food services and connections to benefits.
Learn More →Each year, Flavors of Our Community brings together individual and group volunteers to increase access to culturally specific foods, flavors and spices at food shelves across the Twin Cities. Help support local families experiencing food insecurity.
Learn More →When families must choose between healthy meals and monthly bills, it affects every aspect of their lives. Greater Twin Cities United Way unites community members, businesses and nonprofits across the metro to increase access to nutritious, culturally relevant meals while strengthening our regional food system so everyone has the food they need to thrive.
Through our 211 resource helpline, we connect individuals and families to food pantries and meal programs to help put food on the table. Often, 211 operators can provide additional resources, such as job training, help paying bills or other needs that create barriers to food security.
Through multiyear partnerships we provide financial and technical support to nonprofit partners doing the most impactful work to provide emergency food services and connections to benefits so all families can increase their food security.
Through community-wide volunteer initiatives like Flavors of Our Community, volunteers and donors provide culturally specific foods, flavors and spices for local food shelves across the Greater Twin Cities so everyone can create meals that are meaningful and familiar.
Through our Full Lives innovation initiative, we partner with nonprofits, food producers, distributors and entrepreneurs to create a thriving and equitable Twin Cities regional food system where all communities have physical and economic access to food that meets their cultural and nutritional needs. By investing in community-led partnerships, we support food access while partnering to solve the root causes of hunger in Minnesota.
In support of food security for all Minnesotans, we advocate at the state, local and national level for policies and practices that ensure equitable access to food that nourishes and sustains individuals and families, supports our local economy and creates opportunities for food entrepreneurs.
Transparency is of the utmost importance to us at Greater Twin Cities United Way. We’re always here to answer any questions you may have about our organization or the work we do.
Below are responses to some of the inquiries we get most often about our food security programs.
Greater Twin Cities United Way unites community partners to ensure all people have access to food that is nutritious, culturally relevant and affordable, toward long-term food security.
You can call 211 or visit 211unitedway.org to learn more about food assistance and other resources in your community. Available 24/7, 211 operators provide confidential information and referrals to statewide resources, including food shelves, emergency food resources and assistance programs.
Flavors of Our Community food packs are distributed by our nonprofit partners throughout the Twin Cities. Each year, we partner with 10+ non-profit partners who distribute the packs at their food shelf locations around the Twin Cities area. You can see the full list of our partners here under the Community Partners tab.
Greater Twin Cities United Way supports people experiencing food insecurity or hunger in Minnesota through our multiyear partnerships, innovation initiatives and community engagement opportunities. We support community partners doing the most impactful work to provide emergency food services and connections to benefits so families can increase their food security. We also connect individuals and families to emergency food services and meal programs via our 211 resource helpline.
Greater Twin Cities United Way primarily serves the nine-county metro, including Anoka, Carver, Chisago, Dakota, Hennepin, Isanti, Ramsey, Scott and western Washington counties, though many of our initiatives reach statewide.
Flavors of Our Community is Greater Twin Cities United Way’s annual community-wide initiative to provide local food shelves with culturally specific pantry and spice packs to ensure everyone has access to foods that are meaningful and familiar. Learn more about how you can volunteer at home by purchasing, assembling and donating food packs representing Afghan, East African, Karen, Latine, Indigenous and Southeast Asian food preferences.
The six cultures represented in the Flavors of Our Community packs were determined in collaboration with our food shelf partners as populations most highly impacted by historic and current systemic under resourcing. As the initiative grows, we continue to listen to our partners and reflect the current needs and requests from our neighbors experiencing food insecurity in our pack selection.
