Little Pantry

Sometimes a little goes a long way…

1 in 5 Minnesota households Can’t afford the food they need.

— Statewide Hunger Study

Hunger is real, and it’s close. At Gloria Dei, we work in multiple ways to address the food insecurity in our community. We donate thousands of dollars each year to local programs like Channel One, Meals on Wheels, and Community Food Response. We also work to make access to food easier for our neighbors by making it available on our own property at our Little Pantry.

The outdoor version of our pantry is off the main street so people can access it safely and anonymously. It gets emptied almost daily so we restock it constantly.

The indoor version of our pantry is just inside our main office door and can keep a lot of foods that may not be able to be stored outside in heat and cold, such as liquids and fresh fruit. We restock the indoor one frequently as well.

Can You help?

The Little Pantry is supported by donations from Gloria Dei members and friends, including both financial gifts and food. If you would like to donate food for our little pantry, please use the drop-off location in the office hallway between Door 1 and the Looking Within Center.

The following guidelines can help you identify what is most helpful:

We need

  • healthy, shelf-stable meals and snacks

  • easy-prep meals (no stove required)

  • ingredients that go together

  • cans with pull-tabs (no can opener required)

  • hygiene items like toothpaste, deodorant, laundry pods, feminine products, etc.

Please Avoid

  • food that is expired or about to expire

  • glass jars (break too easily)

  • cans or bottles in the winter (explosion hazard - opt for pouches instead)

  • dried beans (difficult to cook)

  • boxed macaroni and cheese (requires both milk and butter, which are expensive and must be kept fresh)

  • foods and snacks that are high in sugar and fat