Gratitude in Action! Thanks to our incredible supporters, Open Your Heart has proudly awarded over $65,000 in funding to Minnesota crisis service agencies in need. This support will directly impact nearly 225,000 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!
Advocates Against Domestic Abuse dba HOPE – Healing Opportunity Provided Equally
$5,000 | Aitkin
Open Your Heart funding will support transportation assistance for victims of domestic violence in Aitkin County, where no public transit exists. For 44 years, HOPE has been a trusted advocacy nonprofit, serving rural Minnesota communities and ensuring survivors can access safety and essential services. Without public transportation, they rely on gas cards and staff transportation. With this funding, HOPE can continue removing transportation barriers and ensuring survivors receive the support they need.
Align Minneapolis (fiscal agent Central Lutheran Church) – Street Voices of Change (SVoC)
$3,000 | Minneapolis
Open Your Heart funding will support transportation assistance for members of Street Voices of Change (SVoC), a powerful community of individuals with lived experiences of homelessness who come together to drive meaningful change. This support will provide bus tokens, ensuring transportation is not a barrier to attending twice-weekly SVoC meetings, where members collaborate to advance their mission.
With Open Your Heart’s funding, SVoC members can continue leading important conversations and shaping solutions for their community.”
$3,130 | St. Paul
Open Your Heart funding will support the purchase of essential equipment for Family Values for Life’s onsite food shelf, which distributes two million pounds of food annually to 20,000 individuals. Located in east St. Paul, the food shelf primarily serves low-income families of color, providing vital resources to those in need. With this funding, Family Values for Life can enhance the quality of its services, ensuring families receive reliable access to food and support in their community.
The Salvation Army Northern Division
$3,463 | Fergus Falls
Open Your Heart funding will support essential equipment for the Fergus Falls Salvation Army meal program, which serves adults, families, and youth experiencing homelessness and food insecurity in Otter Tail County. A new standing freezer will increase food storage capacity and improve accessibility, ensuring ingredients are easily organized and readily available. Additionally, an industrial coffee grinder will allow the purchase of whole beans at a lower cost, reducing monthly food expenses and expanding the variety of meals offered.
With this funding, the meal program can continue providing reliable, nutritious food to those in need while improving efficiency and sustainability.
Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches
$6,834 | Minneapolis
Open Your Heart funding will support the purchase and installation of a commercial-grade oven for GMCC’s weekly drop-in center, which serves individuals and families experiencing homelessness and poverty. This essential upgrade will increase meal capacity, reduce costs by allowing the use of cold or frozen food, and expand menu options to better meet dietary and cultural needs.
GMCC provides hot meals, showers, clean clothing, hygiene supplies, case management, and housing services, as well as a weekly healing circle offering food and community support. With this funding, GMCC can continue delivering vital resources while ensuring more people receive nutritious, accessible meals.
$3,500 | St. Paul
Open Your Heart funding will support the Midway Project, a resident-led initiative of Hamline Midway Coalition (HMC), a nonprofit and one of St. Paul’s 17 district councils, dedicated to community building, economic development, and transportation advocacy. Since its founding in response to the urgent needs following the murder of George Floyd, the Midway Project has provided weekly distributions of fresh produce, pantry staples, personal care items, and other essential resources to an average of 100 families. This funding will help sustain and expand the project, ensuring neighbors continue to access vital support while strengthening a community of care.
$5,000 | Coon Rapids
Open Your Heart funding will support HOPE 4 Youth as it develops a Transitional Jobs (TJ)/Work Readiness program in partnership with local businesses. This initiative will help young people build the skills needed to find, keep, and advance in employment through work assessments, training, and mentorship. With this funding, HOPE 4 Youth can create meaningful opportunities that empower youth to achieve long-term stability and success in the workforce.
Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center
$10,000 | Minneapolis
Open Your Heart funding will support the Wawokiye Drop-In Center at the Minnesota Indian Women’s Resource Center (MIWRC), which provides culturally specific, trauma-informed services to women, children, and two-spirit/trans relatives experiencing homelessness and food insecurity. Serving up to six individuals at a time and approximately 600 annually, the center offers essential support in a safe, welcoming space. With this funding, MIWRC can continue meeting urgent needs while fostering healing and stability for those seeking care.
$5,000 | Minneapolis
Open Your Heart funding will support MLTC’s efforts to provide food, clothing, and essential supplies to individuals experiencing homelessness and poverty across 20 locations. In 2025, this funding will help ensure access to warm clothing, including long underwear and insulated mittens/gloves, as well as feminine hygiene and dental products. While most service sites are in Hennepin County, several extend into Ramsey, reaching more individuals in need. With this support, MLTC can continue offering dignity and care to those seeking stability and assistance.
$3,090| South Saint Paul
Open Your Heart funding will support Neighbors Inc. in enhancing its food shelf and Hunger Relief operations, ensuring greater efficiency and safety for both volunteers and the families they serve. This funding will help purchase an industrial-grade scale with ramps, improving the organization’s ability to manage and distribute food effectively. With these upgrades, Neighbors can continue providing critical resources to 1,200 families while supporting the well-being of 334 active volunteers, 70% of whom are older adults.
Prince of Peace Lutheran Church
$4,800 | Burnsville
Open Your Heart funding will support Mission Outpost in expanding access to frozen foods for South Metro residents facing food insecurity and financial hardship. Anticipating service to 21,000 individuals in 2025, Mission Outpost provides essential resources—including food, clothing, furniture, and support services—to help families sustain themselves. This funding will enable the purchase of a stand-up, glass-door, reach-in freezer, improving food storage and allowing guests to shop independently in a dignified, welcoming environment.
$5,000 | Monticello
Open Your Heart funding will support Rivers of Hope in Monticello’s Direct Client Assistance program, which provides crucial resources for domestic violence victims and survivors seeking safety and stability. This funding will help cover urgent needs such as gift cards for food and gas, safe phones and locks, temporary hotel stays, transportation, and other essential expenses. By reducing barriers and meeting immediate needs, this support ensures advocates have the tools necessary to assist survivors effectively on their path to security and healing.
Southern Anoka Community Assistance (SACA)
$2,487| Columbia Heights
Open Your Heart funding will support SACA in replacing a failed freezer compressor, ensuring continued food storage and distribution for families facing food insecurity. Founded in 1976, SACA has grown from a small food shelf into a vital resource serving over 68,000 individuals annually across Southern Anoka County and NE Minneapolis. Through its client-choice food model, low-cost thrift store, and wraparound services—including home deliveries and culturally responsive food access—SACA remains committed to dignity, choice, and accessibility. This funding will help sustain its critical food relief efforts and support ongoing service expansion.
$5,253 | Hopkins
Open Your Heart funding will support Sojourner in replacing aging laundry appliances in its emergency shelter, ensuring reliable access to clean clothing and linens for survivors of domestic violence. This funding will allow for the purchase of a commercial washer, a commercial dryer, and one regular dryer, promoting dignity, hygiene, and comfort during a critical time of transition. Upgrading these facilities will also reduce costly repairs and enable staff to focus on providing essential advocacy and support services for families seeking safety and stability.