Food Resources for Seniors

Getting a warm and healthy meal is essential to ones health—but for 80,000 Minnesota seniors, it can be a struggle. That's why we've teamed up with UnitedHealthcare and WCCO-TV to help older Americans realize that there are programs that can help. They're not handouts, but there are programs that help provide seniors with the nutritious foods they need for free, or the resources to find them.

Senior Hunger Prevalence

Food shelf visits by seniors to Second Harvest Heartland member food shelves have increased by 61% since 2008. Older Americans who have low incomes or who live on fixed incomes often struggle to pay their bills, and fall into patterns of eating less to make their dollars go further. Seniors with limited mobility or access to transportation are often forced to spend more money for less food in small markets and convenience stores. And many older Americans don't take advantage of the programs available to them. For example, less than half of eligible seniors participate in SNAP/Food Support.

Nearly 30% of Second Harvest Heartland's members' client households reported low food security—meaning the lack of regular access to the nutrition needed to leave a healthy life. In a land as bountiful as ours, these statistics are simply unacceptable.

Food Resources

• The Senior Linkage Line: One Stop Shop for Minnesota Seniors provides the simplicity of getting connected and getting answers by calling one phone number statewide: 1-800-333-2433. For more information, visit the MinnesotaHelp.Info or the Minnesota Board on Aging web page.
• Call 2-1-1 (or 651-291-0211 from a cell phone). It's free, confidential and available 24/7. The information and referral line offers local information about food, housing, employment, transportation, health services, and much more.
• The Minnesota Food HelpLine is a program of Hunger Solutions Minnesota that helps connect individuals with food resources. Call 1-888-711-1151 to learn about Food Support (Food Stamps), food shelves, Meals on Wheels, and more. (Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.)
• Click here to find your local food shelf through the Hunger Solutions website.
• For Food Support/Food Stamps assistance in the metro area, assistance in Minneapolis and Washington, Dakota and Ramsey Counties, click the appropriate link at the bottom of this page and fill out the short form. A Second Harvest Heartland specialist will contact you shortly. For Food Support/Food Stamps assistance outside of these areas, please call 1-888-711-1151.

Get More Information

If you are still not sure where to turn for help for yourself, your family, a loved one or a client, please fill out the short form below and a representative will be in touch.