These are all limited-quantity events. Please note that agencies may run out of food, toys or other resources.

 

Thanksgiving food and meals

These listings are all free unless otherwise noted. No income qualifications are needed. First come, first serve:

 

Tru Breed Motor Cycle Club Turkey Giveaway

Sat., Nov. 17, 1 pm until all turkeys are gone

Folwell Park, 1615 Dowling Avenue North, Minneapolis

Turkeys are only for residents that live in North Minneapolis zip codes 55411 and 55412.

 

Thanksgiving Church Service & Dinner for All

Wed., Nov. 14, 6 pm

Greater Friendship Missionary Baptist Church

2600 E. 38th Street South, Minneapolis

Church service at 6 pm, dinner served after — friendly place, all are welcome

 

Waite House dinner and play

Thurs., Nov. 15, 5:30-7:30 pm

2529 13th Avenue South, Minneapolis, 612-721-1681

Open to anyone; no reservations required. Dinner served 5:30 pm-7:30 pm. A play will be provided and starts at 5:30 pm.

 

Gethsemane Lutheran Church Community Thanksgiving Dinner

Thurs., Nov. 22, 1 pm

715 Minnetonka Mills Road, Hopkins 55343

Serves families, singles, couples, members, friends, and all neighbors

Call the church office at 952-935-1753 by Wednesday, Nov. 21 to make your reservation. Reservations will close when capacity is reached.

 

Dorothy Day Thanksgiving Day dinner

Thurs., Nov. 22, 11:30 am — 1 pm

183 Old Sixth Street, St. Paul 55102, 651-293-1919

No reservations required. No one turned away, but they prefer diners have a Dorothy Day ID card.

 

JJ’s Bierstube Thanksgiving Day meal

Thurs., Nov.22, 12-2 pm

2670 East County Road E, White Bear Lake 55110

Call Jodi at 651-271-4961 for reservations. Reservations are appreciated but not required. Meals will be served to anyone.

 

Salvation Army West 7th Office meals

Wed., Nov. 21, 7 am & Thurs., Nov. 22, 11 am

401 West 7th Street, St. Paul 55102, 651-224-6946

Free breakfast served the day before Thanksgiving; free dinner served on Thanksgiving Day.

Walk in; open to anyone,

 

Union Gospel Mission dinner

Thurs., Nov. 22, 12-1:30 pm

435 East University Ave. (University and Lafayette), St. Paul 55102, 651-292-9207

Walk in; open to anyone.

 

Thanksgiving Meals on Wheels

Serves residents within 45 miles of St. Paul (generally Minneapolis, St. Paul and surrounding suburbs)

Will deliver a traditional meal 8 am — 12 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Recipients will have to warm the food.

Eligibility: Families of any size, single seniors, and persons who are disabled or homebound

Phone registration is required; call 651-699-5404 Monday-Friday, 9 am — 4 pm. Must provide name, address including apartment number, ZIP code, phone number, number of people in the family, and any special delivery instruction such as which door to enter. Will take names until full, which is usually, but not guaranteed to be, the Monday before Thanksgiving.

 

Unseen Angels Thanksgiving Day meal delivery

Serves residents of Dakota, Hennepin, Ramsey and Washington counties

Will deliver a traditional Thanksgiving meal between 11 am and 1 pm on Thanksgiving Day. Recipients will have to warm the food.

Eligibility: Families of any size and single persons

Reservations are required. Must provide name, address, phone number and number in family.

Registering on website is preferred: www.theunseenangels.org; click on “Request a Meal” tab. If no Internet access, call 715-377-6818 Monday-Friday, 9 am — 5 pm; registration ends at noon on November 15.

 

Christmas toys

Read qualifications carefully; if you have questions, contact the agencies directly. Again, these programs may run out of toys or other supplies.

 

Salvation Army Clearinghouse (formerly Operation Joy)

Serves: Minneapolis, Oakdale, St. Paul, and northern Ramsey County immediately, and other communities if no other program is available

Eligibility: Children birth-14 — can’t turn 15 before January 1, 2013

Registration Dates: Monday – Friday, 9 am — 4 pm November 5 — December 6 (closed Thanksgiving and the day after Thanksgiving)

Register by phone at 651-746-3595. Hmong- and Spanish-speaking operators will usually be available. Registration also available at http://salvationarmynorth.org/toyshop. List of documents required will be provided at time of registration.

Registration is for toys only. Distribution dates will be provided to those who have registered.

 

 

Emergency Toy Shop

Sat., Dec. 22, 9 am — 12 pm

Location to be announced

Serves any child ages birth to 14 who has not already received toys from another agency

Call 651-746-3595 Monday-Friday, 9 am — 4 pm December 7-21, and 9 am — 12 pm Sat., Dec. 22 for more information.

 

Community Corner toy program

1500 69th Ave North, Brooklyn Center 55430

Serves families with children ages birth-18 (18-year-olds must attend school) residing in Brooklyn Center who attend Brooklyn Center public schools or parents/adults who participate in the GED program at Community Corner. Serves 80 families.

Registration starts November 12 until program is full. Call 763-561-2481 Monday-Friday 9 am – 5 pm.

 

Community Emergency Assistance Program toy giveaway

7051 Brooklyn Blvd., Brooklyn Center, MN 55430

Serves Brooklyn Center, Brooklyn Park, and Eastern Champlin (east of Highway 169) or current clients of one of CEAP’s programs.

Everyone must call to be pre-screened and set up a time to come in and register; registration sessions from November 6 — December 4 or until sessions are full. Call 763-450-3676 Monday-Friday, 9 am — 3 pm.

 

CROSS Toys for Tots/Teens

12915 Weinand Circle, P.O. Box 574, Rogers, MN 55374

Serves residents of the Osseo-Maple Grove area, western Champlin, Rogers, Dayton and Corcoran.

Come in or call 763-425-1050 to register. Deadline is November 26 for current clients; new clients’ deadline is based on availability.

 

NEAR toys and food program

Toy distribution Sat., Dec. 22

Crystal Community Center, 4800 Douglas Drive

Serves: Northern Crystal, northern New Hope and northern Robbinsdale

For food basket, you must be current client of food shelf. Registration begins November 26 – December 21. Food is distributed during regular food shelf appointments.

For Toys for Tots, you do not need to be current client but you must live in service area.

Toy registration deadline is December 12; call 763-533-2836 or go to 5209 West Broadway, Crystal 55429.

 

PRISM holiday gifts program

Dec. 17-21

730 Florida Avenue South, Golden Valley 55426

Serves: Northwest suburban area (south of 42nd Avenue in Crystal, New Hope and Robbinsdale; all of Golden Valley; east of 494 in Plymouth)

Families must call and sign up for the toy distribution. If not a current member of the food shelf, you must meet with case manager.

Call 763-529-1350 during business hours: 8:30 am — 7 pm Monday; 8:30 am — 5 pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Registration deadline is December 12.

Bring a current utility bill from within the past 30 days for proof of residency, ID for head of household; and ID for children (school ID, medical insurance cards, Social Security card).

 

STEP holiday gifts for infants-age 17 program

6812 W. Lake St., St. Louis Park 55426, 952-925-4899

Serves residents of St. Louis Park

Walk-in for registration. Registration is November 26 — December 13, Monday-Thursday, 1-2:30 pm and Tuesday, 6-7 pm or during scheduled food appointment.

Bring photo ID for yourself and ID for each child showing a birth date (birth certificate, school record, etc.) and a current utility bill or lease.

No food or meals program for December.

 

VEAP holiday toy and food program

9728 Irving Avenue South, Bloomington 55431

Serves: Residents of Bloomington, Edina, Richfield and parts of south Minneapolis (west of Cedar Avenue and south of 50th Street)

Register by phone at 952-888-9616 November 12 — December 7, 8 am — 5 pm Monday-Friday and 8 am — 7 pm Thursday. Registration will take place at prescheduled food pantry appointments. No walk-in registration. Pick-up time will be scheduled at time of registration.

Must bring a piece of official business mail postmarked November 1, 2012 or later, head of household picture ID, ID for any household members who have not been served at VEAP in 2012, and ID for children (birth certificate, medical card, Social Security card).

 

New Brighton Santa Cop

New Brighton Department of Public Safety, 785 Old Highway 8 NW, New Brighton, MN

The program helps families with holiday gifts, including toys and other items. Residents must live in New Brighton or have kids in the Mounds View School District to qualify.

Applications are at the New Brighton Department of Public Safety. Deadline to apply is Monday, December 3.

 

White Bear Lake Food Shelf and toy giveaway

Distribution for toys is Sat., Dec. 15 and for food is Tues., Dec. 18

1884 Whitaker Avenue, White Bear Lake, 55110

Serves residents of White Bear Lake School District: Birchwood, Gem Lake, Hugo, North Oaks, Vadnais Heights, White Bear Lake and White Bear Lake Township

Must be legal guardian of child to register for toys

Register by calling 651-407-5310 Monday-Friday 12-2 pm. Deadline for toys is November 30 and for a food basket is December 10. Once registration closes, a confirmation letter will be sent with distribution information.

 

Resources provided by 211unitedway.org via the Black Parent Group (www.theblackparentgroup.org).