What a fantastic organization. I have volunteered at Second Harvest on several occasions. In…read moreaddition to being organized and easy to work with, they encourage fun. Volunteerism at Second Harvest typically involves labeling and packaging food for individual consumption. No matter what size group I have brought to this location, they always have enough work to keep us busy for 2+ hours. Yesterday we sorted through pallets full of potatoes and created five-pound bags for distribution to families in need. In a two-hour span, a team of 40 volunteers created enough packs to make nearly 7,000 meals. That is true impact. During the process, the Second Harvest team efficiently kept us in supply of the necessary products and played some entertaining music that made us forget we were trading desk jobs for manual labor. Exercise, fun, and community benefit all in one event! At the end of our volunteer event, the staff provided statistics to help us measure the impact of our time. They also explained their broad reach and how many lives Second Harvest touches on a regular basis. I am so thankful that organizations like this exist and that they truly do all possible to make life a bit better for those who are suffering. To be a part of it is both humbling and incredibly satisfying. Whether you have a group of corporate volunteers or are a retiree looking to spend some time helping others, Second Harvest is a great partner organization.

My eyes were opened yesterday, when our company decided to volunteer at Second Harvest Heartland…read moreService Center for our annual employee event. I can't remember all the stats, but I do remember them saying one person in ten goes hungry in Minnesota and western Wisconsin. And to think how much I eat, how much we as a country/state/community waste food. They can make a dollar stretch, and with so many causes looking for money, this is one that really can help out a lot of people. We had about 30 people from our office, but there were two other companies volunteering. Most of us went into the 'clean room', where we donned our lunch lady hairnets and surgical gloves. We started bagging pasta, moved on to bag granola cereal, and finished with bagging rice. Some of our group as well as the other companies bagged potatoes. In our three hours of work, we roughly filled over 400 pounds of pasta, 500 pounds of cereal, and 800 pounds of rice. I think the potatoes were in the thousand-pound range. In all, we did enough work that would provide over 8,000 meals to families of four. As a company, we bonded, and I got to learn a bit more about some of my coworkers. It was a great team building event and while we had fun, this activity serves a greater good. I would do this again in a heartbeat and I highly recommend it to companies, groups of friends, or if you feel like you want to 'pay it forward'. Pictures say thousands of words. Just look at all these happy volunteers. It says it all. Hopefully they will get the August album up soon so you can see our picture. Second Harvest and the families who receive help from them are very grateful, too. www.2harvest.org/volunteerphotos

I was a chef there a few months ago and the idea of serving people and families in need was a honor…read morefor me but the management in the kitchen is not qualified to serve these types of clients/residents, and why I say this is because I have seen the quality of food that the so called managers were willing to feed the residents. They don't care about the residents in the building and they don't have skill or respect that they should have working for people that are at a disadvantage. That place new need and fresh ideas and management because the system they have is bias and shows favoritism to those who suck up to them and caters to their egos. Bias, racism and favoritism has no place in a organization like this. Oh yeah the "kitchen managers" don't know how to cook food properly and doesn't use gloves when preparing ready to eat meals!

This review is based on my volunteer work almost a year ago. I need to write it down before my…read morelose my memory. Every year, I try to do something helpful within the community. I have heard of this place from a friend. I looked it up and called them right away. They told me the only thing I could do is serve meal for now, I said sure. I noticed the time frame they got were mostly booked by big corporation workers, like Target. Since most of the lunch and dinner were booked the only option was breakfast. Of course since I am an early bird, I signed up. I arrived pretty e-a-r-l-y. I had to get a cup of coffee so I could be ready to work. I arrived and there was a police officer sitting by the security.Yes, they check your ID to make sure you are legit and not to bring any thing harmful to the building. If you are a visitor or volunteer person, you filled in your name and reasons for the visit. I headed downstairs where the cafeteria located. The staff was very nice to me. They explained to me what I needed to do. I served oatmeal, coffee and juice. I had to wear an apron and a hair net which makes sense. I stayed a little longer to help out cleaning the tables and floor. I was there for a little over two hours. After that I went straight to work. I had a great time talking to people coming in for food. Most of them were family in need. I really appreciate a service like this helping the community in need. I hope everyone get a chance to do something like this. Who knows you might see me there...:) (Parking lot is small)

Habitat for Humanity's A Brush with Kindess Program is the perfect way to get a group together to…read morevolunteer in the community. This is an especially great way to get your work involved in some volunteer work. I organized a group from my company to volunteer with ABWK this week and it was a wonderful experience. It's very easy to sign up a group and you don't need a large group to participate. Habitat for Humanity supplies everything you need for the project, all you need to do is bring the volunteers and your lunch. The volunteer day lasts from 8:30 to 4:00 in the summer. Most projects in the summer consisit of painting and scraping. They also do work in the winter where they work on the interior of homes. This program is a wonderful way to help people in the community and it definitely leaves you feeling fulfilled!

Had the opportunity to volunteer here a few days ago with SGAD who was celebrating their 15th…read morebirthday, so it was extra special. We were able to hear a bit about The Food Group's mission & how they operate. We packaged elbow macaroni which was pretty chill. The facility was clean & organized! I liked that the stations were spaced out a bit with 3-4 people at each station (which would vary depending on group sizes). Overall a great experience & would highly recommend as a place to volunteer! Very friendly staff!

Had such a great time volunteering here with SGAD!! I've volunteered with Surly at the Roseville…read morelocation before doing a hanger sort. This location was a bit different. We did a napkin and placemat sort/pairing, some people got to match the sets to a set of dishes so when people come to grab them they can have a whole set. This location seemed a bit tighter space wise than the other location but it worked out for us spreading out. Staff were nice and helpful when we had questions.

I would tell them not to turn down wonderful pieces of furniture. I had a beautiful Bernhardt sofa…read morethat barely was used and they turned it down with a Thomas ville oak dining room table six chairs. They don't bother to even look at pictures and then ask you to pay for moving. With so many people without homes or furniture, how can they do that.

VEAP provides an incredibly necessary community service. I go to VEAP once a month to get food and…read morethey provide "an abundance of groceries" absolutely free. Fish fillets, ground beef, fruits, vegetables, grains, bread, canned foods, frozen foods, sauces, pastries, butter, even sometimes toilet paper, paper towels and napkins. I'm not sure how they've managed to grow to become such an inspirational and clearly imperative service to the community but having been here in Minnesota for more than 20 years may explain it in part. It also requires dedicated and responsible volunteers that work with a smile for everyone that comes through the door. I'd give VEAP 10 Stars or more if I could. We get between 15 and 30 full, well balanced meals for 2 people every month! As an aside, I don't believe any of VEAP's policies could be considered overreach and if you use VEAP and are amazed at what you get for free and feel that VEAP makes you feel deserving and proud, take the time to leave a review!

The individual who assisted me was amazing. She understood my needs and assisted with just that. I…read morehighly recommend their services!

I stayed at RMH in 2023. My son was born with Transposition of the greater arteries and needed to…read morehave open heart surgery at 3 days old. Ronald McDonald House welcomed my fiancé and I in with such a caring environment. We were provided a room with a large living room space and a bedroom. The staff was so friendly everyday they would ask how my son is doing and how we are doing as parents. The meals were pretty great as well considering the hospital food isn't always an option. They have a pantry where you can cook things as well. Ronald McDonald House has such a huge part of my heart. The events they have are also amazing to keep your mind off the situation for a while like virtual bingo although I did not participate but it was great seeing they had options. Years later, I am always calling to donate things they need. My son who is almost 3 is now excited to help give back.

If i could give this a zero star review i would!! I was having a picnic with my friends and we…read morefound a child roaming around in the streets with just a t-shirt and a diaper. no pants. no shoes. His diaper was completely full and he was probably roaming in the streets for a while. THATS ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY. this happened on a college campus where they're are often a lot of drunk drivers and there's a river not too far away. this is absolutely ridiculous. saying i'm LIVID IS AN UNDERSTATEMENT. there was another girl outside and she said she works there and that the doors are usually locked so unless someone left the door open this shouldn't have happened. there's also a receptionist that sits at the front which means she was not doing her job and being attentive. ABSOLUTELY NOT OKAY!!

Well Run! Everyone is professional, options are clearly laid out. Everything was so Clean!read more

Dropped off a box of food products I'd received from a client. Quick, easy, and lovely. Writing…read morethis took at least thrice as long as the entire donation process did. RECIPIENTS: The place is clearly well-attended with several individuals and families in the waiting area awaiting their turn in the three entries per 15-minute arrangement, though everyone is free to take as long as they prefer once in the pantry. The pantry itself is spacious with shelves lining the walls of a large room, bustling with activity from shoppers seeking healthy fare. A mobility bus even stopped right in front of the pantry and assisted elderly attendees to the vehicle. From my understanding, they also operate a mobile food pantry truck. DONORS: The shelves could definitely be fuller especially given the level of activity they clearly see, so feel free to drop by with some gifts! Donations are weighed after separating perishables from non-perishables. The weights are then recorded onto a donation receipt, with a copy handed to the donor to go on their merry way through a separate door - which you should look for upon arriving if you're dropping off food, unlike me who unknowingly waltzed into the main area instead. It's a seemingly little thing, but dignity matters a great deal and is among the first things to feel compromised when dealing with difficult times, and it might not feel that great relying on food pantries for some individuals, so I greatly appreciate The Open Door going that extra mile to keep their recipients' sense of comfort in mind. Well done, team. Due to the nature of the environment, I only took a photo of the front for ease of identification for anyone wanting to find it. It's in a low-key plaza sitting at the foundation level of an apartment building behind the high-end shopping center in the area. Google Maps took me for a little spin, so keep your eyes open!