Loaves & Fishes
Website: https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org/
EMAIL (Central Office)
721 Kasota Ave SE, Minneapolis, MN 55414
Phone: 612-377-9810
Time: Fridays from 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM
To provide healthy meals to Minnesotans in areas where the need is greatest.
Find a Community Meal: https://www.loavesandfishesmn.org/find-a-community-meal/
Free Meal Programming
Community Meals
We offer free meals to anyone in need at over 35 community locations. Guests can request as many meals as they need and our staff and volunteers will provide those meals in takeaway containers. Some of our meal sites also have an in-person dining option for guests to socialize and enjoy a meal together.
These prepared meals are essential for many members of our community including single-parent households, individuals without access to a kitchen, seniors, individuals with disabilities or health challenges, and many others who do not have the time, resources, or physical capability to make their own nutritious meals.
Street Outreach
We understand that people cannot access stable housing because of many unpredictable circumstances. Every week, we deliver mobile sandwiches and groceries tailored to our guests’ available resources, providing a vital and consistent source of nourishment to people experiencing homelessness. Our staff create a safe environment in which some guests will receive their only consistent meal.
Community Distribution
Our Community Distribution program aims to extend food access to individuals and families in need, beyond the services offered at our community meal sites. We offer a diverse selection of nutritious food items, including fresh produce, dairy products, proteins, and non-perishable goods. Distributions are held outdoors, accommodating all weather conditions.
The program fosters a sense of community by bringing together volunteers and guests, creating a supportive environment for all participants. By extending our reach beyond meal sites, we ensure that no one is left without access.
Food Waste Reduction
Food Rescue
Our Food Rescue operation supports all our meal programming while simultaneously reducing the amount of greenhouse gases in our atmosphere. Each year, we rescue millions of wholesome food destined for landfills. Our staff captures food from large chains such as Amazon, Reichel Foods, Target, Cub, Walmart, and Starbucks, to the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, local stores, eateries, farms, manufacturers, distributors, schools, and beyond.
No food donation is too small to make a difference. Whether it’s a single chicken or a hundred pallets of poultry, we are committed to rescuing every bit of edible surplus that we come across.
Cooking For All
Our Cooking For All curriculum was developed to educate staff, volunteers, meal partners, students, youth groups, and more on how to cook while incorporating low-waste cooking techniques. These classes take place in-person at our Commissary Kitchens and are also available virtually.
The negative effects of food insecurity often become generational. Our Cooking For All curriculum provides individuals with an opportunity to learn a necessary life skill that they may not have had the chance to learn otherwise.
After viewing any of the videos below, please complete the survey at this link. If you are viewing these videos in preparation for volunteering with us, we recommend completing the survey after your volunteer shift. This survey helps us improve the Cooking For All curriculum and overall volunteer experience, so we greatly appreciate your feedback!
Please note that you do not need to watch all eight videos to complete the survey. If you return to watch additional videos at a later date, feel free to complete the survey again based on those sections of the Cooking For All curriculum.
Community Partnerships
The HUB
Through our HUB program, we collaborate with local nonprofits offering them access to rescued food at a minimal service fee. This partnership allows our partners to provide their own nutritious meals to their communities while still prioritizing their core mission. It is important to us that we provide equitable access to rescued food by keeping it in the communities that it came from.
Advocacy
Our team speaks with people at our community meal locations, listens compassionately to personal circumstances, and offers local referrals relevant to everyone’s needs. We share resources from areas that include civic engagement, transportation, housing, home maintenance, financial literacy, health care systems, social service providers, and more.
All referral information can be found here. Contact our advocacy hotline at 612-429-6900.
Institutional Partners
In 2023, we began a new initiative where we develop mutually beneficial partnerships with institutions throughout Minnesota such as live-in treatment facilities to better serve their communities. Our staff prepare macro-based nutritious meals for individuals living in institutional settings.
Commissary Kitchen
At our three Commissary Kitchens, skilled chefs and dedicated volunteers transform rescued ingredients into nutritious food that will be distributed throughout our meal programming. These commercial kitchens are designed to efficiently cook bulk amounts of food throughout the week. Our Commissary Kitchens are located in Minneapolis, New Hope, and St. Cloud.
Fresh Food Connect
We proudly partner with Fresh Food Connect, a free and easy-to-use mobile app that empowers home gardeners to donate fresh produce to local hunger relief efforts. With just a few taps, gardeners can schedule donations, track their impact throughout the growing season, and help reduce food waste—all while nourishing their neighbors. From a single tomato to a garden full of zucchini, no harvest is too small to make a difference. Every homegrown donation helps us serve fresh, nutritious meals and strengthens our local food system—one garden at a time.
Fresh Food Connect is a free and easy-to-use mobile app that allows you to schedule produce donations right from your phone. It helps you track your impact throughout the growing season while reducing food waste and nourishing your neighbors. You can download the app for iOS or Android to get started today.