Food Programs

Support Neighbors Facing Hunger During the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign

This month, your gift to East Side Neighborhood Services goes even further. Every donation to our food shelves helps unlock matching funds — stretching your generosity to provide more meals for families, seniors, and neighbors who need it most.

In 2025 ESNS Food Programs provided over 35,000 services to households. Distributing nutritious and familiar items to community members.

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 7,000 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 52 buildings we deliver to. Call 612-791-4492 with any questions.

The Glendale Food Shelf is open Monday/Thursday 12pm to 4pm & Tuesday/Wednesday 2-6pm. Glendale Food Shelf is operated in partnership with Minneapolis Public Housing Authority. Please call 612-342-1954 with any questions.

Our Senior Food Shelf is open 9:30 am-12:45PM (last call) Monday-Thursday with client choice shopping. Masks and social distancing are required. No home deliveries available until further notice.

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 52 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]

Distribution sites receive a delivery either once or twice per 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. On your first visit and during our annual re-enrollment period, you will be provided an intake form asking for your name, total number of people in your household and zipcode. Your signature or verbal self-declaration confirms that you meet the income guidelines.

ELIGIBILITY:

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

For more information, please contact 612-791-4492. 

Senior Food Shelf

For 35 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 180,000 pounds of food to 2,000 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:

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

On your first visit and during our annual re-enrollment period, you will be provided an intake form asking for your name, total number of people in your household and zip code. Your signature or verbal self-declaration confirms that you meet the 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-Thursday: 9:30 am - 12:45PM (last call)
Friday-Sunday: closed

Once a month program.

No home deliveries available until further notice.

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 and is open to the public.

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-familiar foods that are staples to the diets of community members. Participants can visit the food shelf twice per month.

Eligibility:

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

On your first visit and during our annual re-enrollment period, you will be provided an intake form asking for your name, total number of people in your household and zip code. Your signature or verbal self-declaration confirms that you meet the income guidelines.

Location:

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

Hours:

Monday/Thursday: 12pm-4PM

Tuesday/Wednesday: 2-6PM

Last call is 15 minutes before closing time.

Twice a month program.

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), Lunds & Byerlys (NE), Sentyrz Market

• Funding: Hennepin County, Hunger Solutions, 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, Trinity Lutheran Church (Minneapolis), AHEPA, Ecumen, Trellis, Evergreen Real Estate Group, Alliance Housing Inc., INH Properties, Capital Realy Group, Bigos Management

Federal Civil Rights Law and USDA Non-Discrimination Statement:

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339.

To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/ad-3027.pdf , from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted 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.