We believe that everyone deserves access to the tools and support they need to thrive. Whether you’re facing a temporary setback or working toward long-term goals, we’re here to help. Together, we can build stronger communities where everyone has the chance to succeed.
Food shelves help people during times of financial hardship and offer emergency and short-term food assistance to individuals and families who meet income guidelines. No one facing food insecurity is turned away. Most food shelves operate on a walk-in or appointment basis.
Aurora Food Shelf
203 S. 2nd St. E. Aurora, MN 55705
Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
218-248-0216
Babbitt Food Shelf
Call for assistance
218-827-2166
Chisholm Food Shelf
208 W. Lake St. Chisholm, MN 55719
Thursdays 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. (appts. available on request)
218-254-0045
Call for Mobile Food Shelf information
Ely Area Food Shelf
15 W. Conan St. Ely, MN 55731
218-235-8527
3rd Wednesday 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. & following Saturday 8 a.m. – 11 a.m.
Grand Marais Food Shelf
300 W 2 St. 2nd Grand Marais, MN 55604
Mondays 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. & 1st Wednesday 4:30 p.m. – 6:30 p.m.
218-387-2113
Proctor Food Shelf
Community Center (North door) 100 S. Pionk Dr. Proctor, MN 55810
Wednesdays 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
218-628-6288 or 218-624-7558
Quad City Food Shelf
8367 Enterprise Dr N Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Drive up: Wednesday & Thursday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Shop Inside: Tuesday 2:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. (appointments available on request)
218-749-1371
Silver Bay Food Shelf
County Service Center 99 Edison Blvd. Silver Bay, MN 55614
Monday-Friday 9 a.m. – 3 p.m.
218-226-4443
Tower Area Food Shelf
302 Spruce St. Tower, MN 55790
3rd Tuesday 2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
763-528-5396
Two Harbors Area Food Shelf
2124 10th St. Two Harbors, MN 55616
Tuesdays 10 a.m. – 3:45 p.m.
218-391-8191
Make a Donation
Monetary contributions and food donations are critical to keeping shelves stocked. When you give to a food shelf, your dollar goes further. Food shelves can stretch every $1 to provide multiple nutritious meals by purchasing in bulk at lower costs. Your donation helps ensure local families have access to healthy food when they need it most. Every gift makes a difference.
Volunteer
Food shelves also rely on volunteers to sort, pack, and distribute food, as well as keep shelves stocked and accessible. Your time and effort can directly impact families in need.
Northeast Minnesota Food Shelf Network
AEOA serves as the fiscal sponsor for eight local food shelves and hosts the Northeast Minnesota Food Shelf Network meetings, which bring together food distribution programs to strengthen efforts to feed hungry families across our region. Through quarterly meetings and ongoing collaboration, we provide a space for food shelves to share best practices, address challenges, and explore innovative solutions. Contact us to learn more or join the network.
Ruby’s Pantry
Salvation Army
Find Your Local Salvation Army
Little Free Pantries
AEOA established four little free pantries. Community members are encourage to take what they need and give what they can. Little Free Pantries look like the popular Little Free Libraries, except they contain food and personal care items. The pantries are maintained by AEOA and three host sites and surrounding community members help to keep them stocked. Those who wish to contribute may do so at their discretion when convenient. Demand outpaces supply, so pantries are often empty. However, empty shelves are problematic only if no one is contributing. Consider organizing a group of friends, neighbors, and co-workers and assigning a day of the month to contribute.
Farmers Markets
AEOA supports EBT acceptance for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits at four area farmers markets:
Cook Area Farmers Market
City Park, River Street Cook, MN 55723
Saturdays 8 am – 12 pm
Starts: Mid-June/Ends: Mid-September
Hibbing Farmers Market
1309 E. 40th Street, Hibbing, MN 55746
Tuesdays 2 pm – 5 pm
Saturdays 9 am – 1 pm
Starts: Mid-June/Ends: October
Tower Farmers Market
Tower Train Depot Parking Lot Tower, MN 55790
Fridays 4 – 6 pm
Starts: Mid-June/Ends: October
Virginia Market Square
Silver Lake at the Kline-Cuppoletti Building 111 S. 9th Ave W. Virginia, MN 55792
Thursdays 2:30 p.m. – 6 p.m.
Starts: Mid-June/Ends: October
Market Buckets Matching Program
Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP)/NAPS
Supplemental food for seniors aged 60 and older.
Monthly distribution from several sites.
For income guidelines and registration information,
call Second Harvest Northland at 218-336-2307
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)/EBT
Helps income eligible individuals and families purchase food.
Call (888)711-1151 to see if you qualify or apply online at
www.mnbenefits.mn.gov
St. Louis County Public Health & Human Services
201 S. 3rd Ave., Virginia, MN 55792 218-471-7115
1814 14th Ave E, Hibbing, MN 55746 218-262-6000
Women, Infants & Children (WIC)
Supplemental food plus nutrition assistance for pregnant,
postpartum, and breastfeeding women and children under 5
www.health.state.mn.us/people/wic
North St. Louis County: 218-471-7604
Free Food Forest
The Rutabaga Project, a partnership between AEOA and the Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability, planted a Community Food Forest in 2019 across the street from the Salvation Army at 507 S 12th Ave W in Virginia, MN. A food forest is a large perennial garden made up of edible plants, bushes and trees. Perennials are plants that come back every year, so once a food forest is planted, it will continue to grow each year and bear more fruits, herbs, nuts, and berries. Our food forest contains 24 fruit and nut trees, many berry bushes, and some raised bed planters with annual plants. Community volunteers maintain the food forest and the site is accessible for anyone to harvest.
United Way 211 provides free and confidential health and human services information for people in Minnesota. Available 24/7 to connect you with the resources and information you need. Call 211 for assistance.
Resourceful is a free community resource guide to help you find free and reduced-cost services in your area.
Apply for Minnesota benefits in 20 minutes or less online, such as food assistance (SNAP), Emergency Assistance, Child Care Assistance, Cash Programs, and Housing Support.
Help Me Connect is a navigator connecting expectant families, families with young children (birth – 8 years old) and those working with families to services in their local communities that support healthy child development and family well-being.
Minnesota Aging Pathways is a free service that connects older adults and caregivers with the answers and services they need so they can live well. Call 1-800-333-2433 Monday – Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Take care of a friend, a loved one, or yourself. Whether you’re facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, a lifeline counselor is available to help during difficult moments anytime, day or night. The 988 Lifeline is available 24/7/365. Your conversations are free and confidential.
Explore resources for understanding your mental health, helping loved ones, or accessing information for personal, academic, or professional purposes, all conveniently gathered in one place. Mental Health America is the nation’s leading national nonprofit dedicated to the promotion of mental health, well-being, and condition prevention.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates a free helpline to provide people with answers about common mental health conditions, including substance abuse disorders. The helpline can also help people navigate treatment options. Use the online treatment provider search to look for available substance abuse treatment programs, including information about insurance and other pay options.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) operates a free helpline to provide people with answers about common mental health conditions, including substance abuse disorders. The helpline can also help people navigate treatment options. Use the online treatment provider search to look for available substance abuse treatment programs, including information about insurance and other pay options.
Parent Aware provides free tools and resources to help families find quality child care and early education programs.
Minnesota Department of Health Alzheimer’s Disease and Related Dementias (ADRD) Community Toolbox is a resource library intended for community members and organizations seeking tools and resources to build community awareness of ADRD, including signs and symptoms, benefits of early detection, and services and support for people living with dementia and those who care for them.
The Alzheimer’s Association 24/7 Helpline is a free service offering support for people living with dementia, caregivers, families and the public. Connect with a live person who can provide information, local resources, crisis assistance and emotional support. For assistance, call the Helpline at 1-800-272-3900.
The Minnesota Secretary of State website is your official resource for voting information, including registration, polling locations, and election details. Visit mnvotes.org to make sure you’re ready to vote. For assistance, call 1-877-600-VOTE (8683).
AEOA uses the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), issued annually by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to determine financial eligibility for many of our programs. These guidelines set income limits based on household size and help ensure that our services are provided fairly and consistently to individuals and families with the greatest economic need. Staff are available to help community members understand how the guidelines apply to specific programs.
In 2023, according to the Federal Poverty Level (FPL), 9% of Minnesota households were financially insecure. Yet this measure failed to account for an additional 25% of households that were also experiencing financial hardship. These households are ALICE: Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed — with income above the FPL, but not enough to afford basic expenses in the county where they live.
ALICE is an acronym for Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed, and represents the growing number of families who are unable to afford the basics of housing, child care, food, transportation, health care, and technology. These workers often struggle to keep their own households from financial ruin, while keeping our local communities running.