Meals From The Heart

MEALS FROM THE HEART IS A NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION THAT BRINGS PEOPLE TOGETHER TO SERVE THEIR NEIGHBORS THROUGH EASY TO EXECUTE, ENERGIZED AND FUN MEAL PACKING EVENTS BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS AND STRENGTHENING COMMUNITIES WHILE PROVIDING FLAVORFUL, FORTIFIED MEALS TO LOCAL FOOD SHELVES AND FAMILIES.

MEAL PACKING EVENTS: FACILITATED MEAL PACKING EVENTS WHERE OVER 3800 VOLUNTEERS PACKED MEALS GIVEN TO PEOPLE IN NEED. IN 2021, APPROXIMATELY 750,000 MEALS WERE PACKED UNDER THE BRAND NAME MEALS FROM THE HEART. THIS WAS ABOUT 60% LESS THAN NORMAL DUE TO COVID.

FOOD BOX: IN LAUNCHING A PROGRAM CALLED THE BUDGET-STRETCHER FOOD BOX DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE DISCOVERED THAT 1 IN 5 OF OUR VETERANS AND THEIR FAMILIES WERE SUFFERING FROM FOOD INSECURITY. PARTNERING WITH A VETERANS PROGRAM CALLED BEYOND THE YELLOW RIBBON, WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE FOOD BOXES FOR ACTIVE-DUTY MINNESOTA MILITARY FAMILIES. THESE FAMILIES ARE OFTEN IN TRANSITION AND FINDING SCHOOLS, CHILDCARE, AND A PLACE TO LIVE AND A JOB FOR A SPOUSE CAN BE A CHALLENGE. THE PANDEMIC AND RISING INFLATION IS FURTHER EXACERBATING THE SITUATION. OUR FOOD BOX PROGRAM IS AN IDEAL SOLUTION TO HELP THESE FAMILIES MAKE ENDS MEET WHILE THEY ADJUST. ANOTHER VETERANS PROGRAM, MAC-V, SERVES VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS ACROSS THE STATE. 25,000 CONTACT MACV EACH YEAR FOR HELP FINDING TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT HOUSING. OUR FOOD BOX PROGRAM HELPS THEM STRETCH THEIR LIVING EXPENSES TO MAKE THE TRANSITION SMOOTHER AND LESS STRESSFUL. MEALS FROM THE HEART HAS DELIVERED 1450 FOOD BOXES THROUGH BOTH OF THESE GREAT ORGANIZATIONS. IN ADDITION, WE HAVE DISTRIBUTED 850 FOOD BOXES TO AFFORDABLE HOUSING FACILITIES, OFTEN RIGHT TO THE RECIPIENT'S DOOR. DISTRIBUTION WAS AS FOLLOWS: 100 TO MINNESOTA VETERANS IN TRANSITIONAL HOUSING; 1,350 TO MINNESOTA MILITARY FAMILIES THROUGH OUR PARTNERS AT BEYOND THE YELLOW RIBBON; 850 TO LOCAL FAMILIES IN STILLWATER, LAKE ELMO, OAK PARK HEIGHTS, OAKDALE, MAHTOMEDI, WOODBURY, NEWPORT, ST PAUL, AND MINNEAPOLIS. IN 2022, WE PLAN TO EXPAND THE BEYOND THE YELLOW RIBBON PROGRAM TO 1900 BOXES AND PROVIDE 1000 BOXES TO LOCAL FAMILIES.