More than a Meal
We pride ourselves on being the "living room of the streets" - a place where our guests are not only safe but also comfortable. They can meet their needs, make the space their own and find community. The level of care we have provided has been with the help of our donors, community, and partners, including many organizations working to serve the unsheltered population. One such organization is Involve MN, a local non-profit collaborating with the community, businesses, faith, and government partners to provide resources and connections to the unsheltered population. Involve MN's motto is "we show up because we are a community and people matter, and we keep showing up because relationships are key to changing lives." This is reflected in the work they do but also in how they do it.
As a partner of Minnesota Central Kitchen and recipient of Second Harvest Heartland donations and rescued food, they provide more than 4,000 meals a week - those meals are cooked by their staff! Thanks to the Woman's Club of Minnesota, they have access to a commercial kitchen where they prepare over 1,000 hot meals daily. They cook the meals and send their staff to deliver the hot meals to sites such as encampments and shelters across the Twin Cities.
We have the privilege of being one of the many sites they visit daily. Thanks to their drivers, Ethan and Javi, we can provide our guests with hot lunch and dinner daily. We receive 100 to 150 meals daily - from fresh summer salads, sloppy joes, and chicken alfredo to taco bowls. There is typically a rotating menu, but depending on the season or holiday, they also provide special meals.
With the recent encampments being cleared out, we have welcomed many new faces, and often the first question they ask is, "can I get something to eat?". Often, they expect a cold sandwich or snack bag, so they are always surprised to receive a hot meal. And when we explain to them that they can come in every day to get breakfast, lunch, and dinner, they express a sense of relief as it is one less thing they have to worry about finding. We can fulfill this significant need thanks to Involve MN; our guests never have to worry about their next meal as long as our doors are opened to welcome them. We extend a special thank you to Involve MN and all their staff for their fantastic work, and we look forward to continuing this partnership in our new space.
For more information about Involve MN, we invite you to follow their updates and stories on their social media: https://www.facebook.com/involvemn/.
