Salvation Army Launches Meals 4 Minnesota Food Drive Through March 27

The Salvation Army’s Meals 4 Minnesota Food Drive runs from Feb. 27 through March 27 to support Minnesota families who do not have enough to eat. A generous donor has given $100,000 to challenge others to give, and the organization says each online donation will do twice as much good. With that help, it said, it can restock its food pantries across Minnesota and serve twice as many hungry local families.

The organization said this year’s food collection is especially important. About one in five Minnesota families now rely on food shelves to make ends meet. Minnesotans also made a record 9 million visits to food shelves in 2024, a 20 percent increase over the previous record year.

The source describes one visitor, 78-year-old Diane of Apple Valley, who lives on $968 a month. Most of that income goes toward taxes and utilities for the house she has lived in for 55 years, leaving little for food. She comes to The Salvation Army for groceries to last each month. “Thank you to the people who donate,” Diane said. “Without you, many of us would be starving.”

The Salvation Army said it is one of the state’s largest providers of emergency food services. It operates hot meal programs and 25 statewide food pantries that together provide nearly 3 million meals a year for Minnesotans in need. Donations help keep those pantries stocked, a practical form of caring for people who have little to spare (Isaiah 58:7).

Lt. Col. Randall Polsley, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division, asked the community to give generously so the pantries can stay stocked throughout 2026. People can give in several ways: by dropping off nonperishable foods such as pasta, peanut butter and canned goods, hosting a food drive, making a cash donation, volunteering, or rounding up purchases at Cub grocery stores in March.

Donors in the Twin Cities may drop off food at their local Salvation Army or at listed partner locations, while donors in greater Minnesota may use their local Salvation Army Worship and Service Center. Online gifts are used to buy food for the pantry nearest the donor’s billing ZIP code, and the organization said $25 feeds a family of three for a week. Volunteers are needed to unload delivery vehicles, weigh food and stock shelves. More information is available at meals4mn.org.

Source: Read the original report