Thanks to our incredible supporters, Open Your Heart has proudly awarded over $75,000 in funding to 20 Minnesota crisis service agencies. This support will indirectly serve more than 276,000 Minnesotans facing food and housing insecurity—proving that generosity truly changes lives.
None of this would be possible without YOU. Thank you for making a difference!
Bridgepointe Community Church Food Pantry
$3,600 | Moorhead
Funding will provide transportation assistance and meaningful activities for individuals and families experiencing homelessness. For three years, Bridgepointe Community Church Food Pantry has hosted gatherings that raise awareness, foster connection, and inspire action around local issues like hunger and poverty. This support ensures continued outreach and care for those in need.
Calvary Food Shelf of Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church
$6,250 | Minneapolis
Funding will support the purchase of a commercial double-door refrigerator to address urgent infrastructure needs at Calvary Food Shelf. These upgrades are essential to expanding storage capacity for fresh produce and rescued food—resources that help nourish their growing community. With limited refrigeration space, the food shelf is unable to fully leverage free food recovery programs that could significantly reduce operating costs. This investment will ensure they maximize available resources, strengthen food security, and continue meeting the rising demand for support.
Concordia University, St. Paul
$2,000 | St. Paul
Funds will support the purchase of a new glass-door merchandising freezer to expand storage capacity and enhance the overall guest experience at Concordia University, St. Paul’s Comet’s Cupboard. This on-campus food shelf serves both students and Twin Cities community members facing food insecurity. The increased storage will allow for a wider selection of fresh and frozen foods, enabling the cupboard to accommodate more guests and extend operating hours without the concern of depleting stock between deliveries.
$3,000 | Grand Rapids
Funding will support students in local schools who are experiencing homelessness or living in transitional housing, helping create stronger pathways to academic success and access to essential resources. According to Homeless School Liaisons and partner organizations, Open Your Heart funding offers unique and critical assistance—removing barriers and ensuring that vulnerable students could stay engaged in school and connected to their communities.
$5,000 | Red Wing
Funding will expand access to vital wraparound services through The Next Step, Hope & Harbor’s day program and resource hub in Red Wing. Focused on housing, food, and employment support, this investment will improve service quality, promote long-term stability, and strengthen outcomes for hundreds of vulnerable residents in Goodhue County.
$3,500 | Plymouth
Funding will support Homeless/Highly Mobile (HHM) students in Intermediate District 287, ages 5 to 21, by providing basic needs like clothing, footwear, and hygiene items. This assistance removes barriers to school attendance and boosts confidence, helping students facing instability stay engaged and succeed academically.
Garrison Area Caregivers, Inc
$3,400 | Garrison
Funding will support the purchase of personal hygiene items and food for those in need, expanding Garrison Area Caregivers’ outreach. As a volunteer-run organization, they rely on grants, donations, and thrift store proceeds to operate. Even during hardships like the COVID-19 shutdown, they continued serving the community with drive-up food distribution—ensuring care with dignity and compassion.
$1,200 | Shakopee
Funding will help MI CASA purchase new shelving units to improve food storage and distribution for low-income families and youth in Scott, Carver, and Dakota Counties. This upgrade is key to meeting growing demand—especially among Latino families facing food insecurity, language barriers, and limited access to culturally relevant food. Improved infrastructure will ensure more families receive nutritious options with dignity and efficiency.
Mt. Olivet Lutheran Church of Plymouth
$1,555 | Plymouth
Funding will support the purchase of updated commercial kitchen equipment—specifically a deep fryer—to meet the growing demand at Mt. Olivet’s meal program, which saw a 21% increase in meals served from 2023 to 2024 and continues to grow in 2025. This upgrade will improve efficiency, expand menu variety, and allow staff to serve more clients with nutritious, hot meals prepared safely and consistently.
North Anoka County Emergency Food Shelf
$5,000 | Cedar
Funding from Open Your Heart will support the purchase of a new storage shed, providing essential space for NACE as they quickly outgrow their current facilities. The shed will significantly improve organization by allowing the Clothing Closet to move out-of-season items from a temporary donated container into a permanent, well-maintained space. This upgrade will keep displayed clothing neat and seasonally relevant for the community, while also easing volunteer workflow and increasing overall storage capacity for food and essential items.
$5,000 | St. Paul
Funding will support the replacement of aging cold storage equipment at Open Hands Midway, including one commercial and one household refrigerator. Upgrading these units is essential to ensuring safe food storage for future meal preparation and service days. With improved reliability and capacity, this investment will directly benefit meal program guests by preserving food quality and supporting consistent, safe delivery of nutritious meals.
$1,800 | St. Paul
Funding will provide 12 heating units for 12 homes at the next Sacred Settlement, offering stable, temperature-controlled housing for chronically homeless individuals. This support eases a financial burden for partner churches and allows continued progress on the broader Sacred Settlement project—building and furnishing homes for those most in need. The new heating systems will also greatly improve residents’ comfort and safety throughout harsh winter months, promoting dignity, stability, and well-being.
$4,254 | Coon Rapids
Funding will support the purchase of a commercial freezer to expand Spirit of Matthew 25’s cold storage capacity—critical for safely storing large quantities of rescued food often received in bulk. As the organization continues to pursue new food sources to meet growing demand, additional freezer space is essential. This upgrade will allow them to accept and preserve more donations, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately feed more individuals and families facing food insecurity.
$5,000 | Burnsville
Funding will help The Drawer maintain and grow its distribution capacity—ensuring current and future partners continue receiving essential items like new socks and underwear. These gifts of warmth and dignity advance The Drawer’s mission to support individuals experiencing homelessness and hardship with care and compassion.
$6,044 | Eagan
Funding will replace The Open Door’s oldest commercial freezer—vital to safely storing and distributing fresh, perishable food like produce, dairy, and proteins. This upgrade ensures continued support for over 20,000 individuals served monthly across Dakota County, helping sustain access to nutritious food for those who need it most.
$3,000 | St. Paul
Funding will support materials for a purpose-designed cafeteria at Ujamaa Place, creating a dedicated space where participants can prepare and share meals. This environment fosters essential life skills like cooking and socializing, helping men who’ve experienced cycles of hardship and isolation reconnect with routines of everyday life. While the upgrade may seem modest, it plays a powerful role in restoring dignity, building confidence, and promoting community among those on their journey toward stability.
$3,500 | Duluth
Funding will enhance Union Gospel Mission’s Outreach Program by providing transportation support and emergency assistance for those experiencing homelessness and housing instability. With tools like bus passes and flexible aid, Outreach staff can respond quickly to urgent needs—whether it’s helping someone reach shelter, attend a job interview, access medical care, or avoid eviction. This support removes barriers to essential services, improves mobility, and fosters stability and dignity for vulnerable members of the Northland community.
$3,300 | Lakeville
Funding will support the purchase of shelving, racks, and baskets for Valley Christian Church as it transitions into a permanent food pantry to meet rising needs in Lakeville. Since 2023, the church has partnered with The Open Door Food Pantry to serve families facing long waitlists for groceries. This grant will help transform part of the church into a dedicated space offering dry goods, hygiene items, and essentials—providing consistent support and strengthening the local community.
Walking With a Purpose Minnesota
$5,000 | St. Paul
Funding will help Walking With a Purpose deliver critical supplies—especially tents and tarps—to adults experiencing chronic homelessness in Ramsey County. Each month, volunteers reach over 275 individuals living in remote outdoor areas where shelters aren’t an option. Tents and tarps are the most requested items, offering protection from harsh weather and preserving dignity. This support will significantly expand the reach and impact of their life-saving outreach.