VOLUNTEER AT HOME FOR FLAVORS OF OUR COMMUNITY

Sign up today to volunteer for Flavors of Our Community! When you volunteer at home, you help everyone in our region access nutritious and culturally relevant food staples to create dishes that feel like home.

Follow these steps to volunteer at home:

Choose which food pack(s) you will assemble and donate.
Sign up here to confirm your packs and drop-off location.
Purchase the items listed for your food pack(s).
Assemble the food pack(s) by placing the items into the type of bag listed.
Drop off completed food pack(s) from Monday, March 3 – Friday, April 11 at the location you selected during sign up.

food PACKS

A Ziploc bag is filled with Afghan staple food items

Afghan Staples

Place all items in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (15 oz container) Raisins
1 (16 oz bag) Dried Lentils
1 (16 oz bag) Dried Kidney Beans
1 (32 oz) Basmati Rice

Afghan Spices

Place all items in a quart Ziploc bag

1 (2 oz) Paprika
1 (1 oz) Turmeric
1 (2.5 oz ground) Chili Powder
1 (3.75 oz) Salt
1 (1.25 oz) Pepper

East African Staples

Place all items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (16 oz bag) Dried Lentils
1 (16 oz bag) Garbanzo Beans
1 (16 oz bag) Red Kidney Beans
1 (32 oz bag) Basmati Rice
1 (10 oz bag) Medjool Dates

KAREN (kuh-ren) STAPLES

Place all items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (4 oz can) Sardines
1 (8 oz can) Bamboo Shoots
1 (3.75 oz bag) Bean Thread Noodles
1 (32 oz bag) Jasmine Rice
1 (32 oz) Vegetable Oil

KAREN (kuh-ren) SPICES

Place all items in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (2 oz) Ginger
1 (1 oz) Turmeric
1 (2.5 oz) Garlic Powder
1 (8 oz) Chili Garlic Sauce
1 (3.75 oz) Salt
1 (1.25 oz) Pepper

INDIGENOUS STAPLES

Place all items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (14.75 oz) Canned Salmon/Chicken/Beef
1 (8.5 oz) Cornbread Mix
1 (14.5 oz) Canned Diced Tomatoes
1 (15.5 oz) Hominy Beans
1 (15.5 oz) Canned Red Kidney Beans

INDIGENOUS SPICES

Place all items in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (8 oz) Better than Bouillon Vegetable
1 (2.25 oz) Onion Powder
1 (2.25 oz) Garlic Powder
1 (2.75 oz ground) Chili Powder
1 (1.25 oz) Ground Sage

SOUTHEAST ASIAN STAPLES

Place all items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (4 oz can) Asian Mackerels or Sardines
1 (14 oz can) Baby Corn (whole)
1 (8 oz can) Bamboo Shoots
1 (3.75 oz bag) Bean Thread Noodles
1 (13.5 oz can) Coconut Milk
1 (32 oz bag) Jasmine Rice

A Ziploc bag is filled with staple foods of the East Asian community including rice noodles, bean threads, and sardines

SOUTHEAST ASIAN SAUCES

Place all items in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (8 oz) Chili Garlic Sauce
1 (7 oz) Fish Sauce
1 (10 oz) Hoisin Sauce
1 (17 oz) Sriracha Sauce

A Ziploc bag is filled with staple baking items

UNIVERSAL BAKING STAPLES

Place all items in one jumbo (14” x 16”) or two 2-gallon Ziploc bags

1 (5 lb bag) All-purpose Flour
1 (4 lb bag) Sugar
1 (26 oz container) Salt
3 (0.75 oz packages) Active Dry Yeast
1 (32 oz) Vegetable Oil

A Ziploc bag is filled with Latinx staples including white rice and black beans

LATINE STAPLES

Place all items in a 2-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (15 oz can) Corn, whole kernel
1 (14.5 oz can) Diced Tomatoes
1 (12 oz can) Jalapeños
1 (16 oz can) Refried Beans
1 (16 oz bag) Dry Beans (black or pinto)
1 (32 oz bag) White Rice

A Ziploc bag is filled with spices familiar to the Latinx community including adobo, cumin and chili powder

LATINE SPICES

Place all items in a 1-gallon Ziploc bag

1 (2.5 oz) Ground Cinnamon
1 (0.6 oz) Cumin
1 (2.5 oz) Chili Powder
1 (3 oz) Garlic Powder
1 (8 oz) Adobo Seasoning

Download the volunteer guide →

shopping notes

The average cost per pack ranges between $10 - $25.
Sizes listed are guidelines and can be adjusted based on store availability.
Items can be found at your local global food supermarket or standard grocery store. Check these areas:
- Global / Ethnic foods section
- Spice section
- Canned meats / fish section
- Baking section
Incomplete pantry packs: Please include all items listed in each pantry pack to the best of your ability. If items are missing, please include a note in your pack(s) listing each missing item.

FOOD PACK DROP-OFF OPTIONS

Completed packs can be dropped off at the below locations from Monday, March 3 – Friday, April 11.

OPEN DROP-OFF AT BREMER BANK

A collection box will be placed inside the lobby of the following Bremer Bank locations during open business hours (9am-5pm) from Monday, March 3 – Friday, April 11:

Brooklyn Center: 5540 Brooklyn Blvd, Brooklyn Center, MN 55429
Eagan: 1995 RahnCliff Court, Eagan, MN 55122
Edina: 6900 France Ave S, Edina, MN 55435
Lake Elmo (Bremer Service Center): 8555 Eagle Point Blvd, Lake Elmo, MN 55042
Plymouth: 3415 Vicksburg Ln N, Plymouth, MN 55447
Roseville: 1715 County Road B2 West, Roseville, MN 55113
St. Louis Park: 7924 Highway 7, Saint Louis Park, MN 55426
St. Paul: 423 Snelling Ave N, St. Paul, MN 55104

SCHEDULED DROP-OFF AT GREATER TWIN CITIES UNITED WAY

Not able to make a drop-off at a Bremer Bank location? Select “Schedule a Drop-Off at United Way” on your sign up, and a member of the Volunteer United team will reach out to coordinate a drop-off at United Way’s office.

Greater Twin Cities United Way office: 404 S 8th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404