Food rescue grants

Grants are available to food security or food recovery organizations to support and expand the food rescue system.

Applications are due October 7 for 2027 projects.

Funding available

Funding is available to collect or process surplus food and redistribute it to people in need. 

Total funding available is $400,000. Organizations working independently may receive up to $100,000. Organizations partnering on a shared project may receive up to $150,000.

Eligibility

Food security or food recovery organizations working in Hennepin County are eligible to apply.

Eligible expenses

Eligible expenses include:

• Food processing equipment
• Measurement devices, such as scales
• Software to manage food recovery or inventory
• Staffing
• Storage infrastructure, including refrigerators and freezers, storage space, and storage equipment
• Transportation vehicles, equipment, and supplies

Application

Access applications materials, get information about joining the information session and submitting questions, and submit an application in the Hennepin County Supplier Portal. 

Supplier Portal contracting opportunities

Register with the Supplier Portal

Supplier Portal help

Important dates

• Grant information session: Tuesday, September 10 at 9 a.m.
• Questions due: Tuesday, September 23 by 3 p.m.
• Applications due: Wednesday, October 7 by 3 p.m.

Grants awarded

Grants awarded in 2026

Hennepin County awarded 8 food rescue grants totaling $300,000 for 2026. The following food security organizations received funding:

All Nations Youth and Community Assistance Program, serving north Minneapolis: $29,600 to support food rescue staffing and stabilize cold storage infrastructure at their food shelf.

Community Emergency Services Inc., serving south Minneapolis: $15,000 to add a freezer in their newly remodeled market and expand food rescue efforts.

East Side Neighborhood Services Inc., serving northeast Minneapolis: $54,000 to restore twice-per-month food deliveries to partners with a replacement box truck.

Harvest from the Heart at Church of the Incarnation, serving south Minneapolis: $120,000 to expand food rescue storage capacity and redistribution using a hub-and-spoke model in partnership with Twin Cities Food Justice.

Intercongregation Communities Association (ICA), serving the Minnetonka area: $20,000 to include local farm and agricultural businesses as partners in food donation and rescue.

North Suburban Emergency Assistance, serving Crystal: $18,500 to expand cold storage to support food rescue donations.

St. Louis Park Emergency Program Inc., serving St. Louis Park: $8,000 to replace an older freezer used to store rescued food.

Sisters Camelot, serving south Minneapolis: $34,900 to stabilize food rescue operations by repairing their box truck used for donation deliveries.

Grants awarded in 2024-2025

Hennepin County awarded 12 food rescue grants totaling $545,000 for 2024 and 2025. The following food security organizations received funding:

CROSS, serving Rogers and northwest Hennepin County: $63,058 to expand collection capacity by funding labor and food to pick up food and a new freezer/cooler.

FreedomWorks Inc.,serving north Minneapolis: $18,949 to expand recovery of prepared food and their food preservation program.

Joyce Uptown Food Shelf, serving Uptown Minneapolis: $9,401 to expand food rescue from grocery stores.

Loaves & Fishes Too, serving south Minneapolis, New Hope, Bloomington, Hopkins, Richfield: $100,000 to expand food recovery, create more efficient collection routes, and purchase a vehicle.

NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center, Inc., serving north Minneapolis: $25,278 to increase recovery to meet growing demand by funding labor and fuel, repairs to coolers, and better tracking software.

People Reaching Out to Other People, Inc., serving Eden Prairie: $34,471 to expand recovery and redistribution of prepared food by funding labor, temperature control equipment for vehicles, and upgraded storage coolers and freezers.

PRISM, serving Golden Valley, south Minneapolis, Minnetonka, Plymouth: $33,413 to expand recovery at four food shelves by funding labor, fuel, and strategic planning.

Sisters Camelot, serving south and northeast Minneapolis: $52,021 to expand recovery by funding a vehicle, fuel, and packing supplies.

St. Louis Park Emergency Program, Inc., serving St. Louis Park: $16,987 to expand current recovery and delivery to other food shelves by funding a walk-in freezer and vehicle.

The Sannah Foundation, serving south Minneapolis: $100,000 to expand current recovery and delivery to other food shelves and will include a walk-in freezer and vehicle.

TC food Justice, Inc., operating mostly in Minneapolis: $42,189 to increase culturally specific donations by funding labor, a refrigerated vehicle, and produce-preservation equipment.

VEAP, Inc., serving Bloomington: $46,240 to expand food recovery by funding labor and fuel.