Food insecurity is when a family cannot consistently purchase enough food. It is estimated that 1 in 9 Americans are food insecure. That equals roughly 13 million children in the US. You could live next door to one of the 1 in 9 and not even know it. The truth is, food insecurity doesn’t have a specific “look” to it. A family doesn’t have to live below the poverty line to be food insecure. They can live in a nice home, in a good neighborhood. They can look like they have it all together and yet still be struggling in silence. Food insecurity can happen to anyone, anywhere. We all need help sometimes, so let’s talk about it. Below are local food support resources.
Olmsted County Food Support Resources
Olmsted County WIC (Women, Infants and Children)
- What Resources are Offered: Electronic Benefit Cards loaded with specific foods (such as dairy, whole grain items, produce, beans, cereals, etc.) that can be purchased each month
- Who Qualifies: Pregnant moms, Women up to 12 months postpartum (depending on breastfeeding status), Children birth to 5 years old, who meet the income requirements
- How to Apply: Olmsted County WIC Online Application
Olmsted County SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program)
- What Resources are Offered: Electronic Benefits Cards loaded with a qualified dollar amount to use on groceries each month
- Who Qualifies: Individuals and families that meet the income requirements
- How to Apply: Olmsted County SNAP Online Application
ChannelOne Food Shelf
- Who Qualifies: Individuals and families who meet the income requirements
- Weekly Food Shelf Hours: Mon – Thur: 8 a.m. – 6 p.m and Fri: 8 a.m. – noon
- Where: 131 35th St SE #5544, Rochester, MN 55904
- For questions contact Christopher Zoellner at (507) 424-1731 or christopherzoellner@channel-one.org.
Salvation Army
- What Resources are Offered: Free Lunch served at the Social Services Center (115 First Avenue NE, Rochester MN 55906); Mon – Fri 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
- Who Qualifies: All are welcome.
Fishes and Loaves (Rochester Outreach Center)
- Partners with Trader Joes to provide families in need with meals.
- For more information contact: info@therocmn.org or 507-226-8193
Community Food Response
- What is Resources are Offered: The Food Exchange offers free meals to be eaten on site or take home and eat elsewhere.
- Who: All are welcome.
- When: Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays from 5-6pm
- Where: 120 1st St. NE, Rochester MN 55906
Church Food Pantries
Hosanna’s Pantry
- When: 4th Saturday of each month from 9 – 11am
- Where: 2815 57th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
Oasis Church Pantry
- When: 3rd Saturday of each month from 10 -11:30am
- Where: 1816 38th St NW, Rochester, MN 55901
The Chosen Pantry
- Where: 1310 10th Ave NE, Rochester MN 55906
- For more information call: (507) 424-1707
Church of the Savior Pantry
- Where: 971 16th St SE, Rochester, MN 55904
- For more information, call: (507) 289-7491
Pine Island Sharing Shelves Food Shelf
- What: Emergency food, clothing and a Christmas meal
- Where: 218 S Main St, Pine Island, MN 55963
- For hours, call: (507) 356-2999
Food Shelf at Oronoco Presbyterian Church
- When: 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 5 – 6:30pm
- Where: 20 3rd St SW, Oronoco MN 55960
- For more information, call: (507) 424-1707
Have a food support resource to add? Tell us about it in the comments!
