Metro Surge Crisis Response - School Deliveries

We’re a small Twin Cities-based organization working to respond to the crisis in Minnesota. For years, we’ve rescued food and distributed it to hunger relief organizations around the metro area. Following the escalation of ICE’s presence in early December, many of our regular partners saw a sharp drop-off of attendance to food shelves and community meals. To adapt, we began delivering to organizations bringing groceries directly to families afraid to leave their homes.

In the wake of Renee Good’s murder in early January, schools across the Twin Cities have offered virtual learning for students afraid to leave their homes. Since then, we have delivered thousands of grocery bags and personal supplies to schools around the metro that are then distributed to families directly by teachers - people the families trust and know.

January 2026 by the numbers:

41 schools served

4,905 bags delivered

168,150 pounds of shelf stable goods

Get Involved

Donate: Monetary gifts provide the fastest way to put fresh food on a family’s table. Your financial contribution will help us purchase meat, eggs, and dairy products to be delivered to local schools.

Make a Donation

Organize a food drive: TCFJ can help distribute the food to those in need - send us a message on Instagram or Facebook, or email us at Socials@TCFoodJustice.org to get started.

How to Help:
We are delivering produce boxes, non-perishable grocery bags, and large bags of personal care supplies to schools. We appreciate variety in donations, but the most essential items we are currently short on are:

  • Culturally-Relevant Foods

    • Long Grain White Rice

    • Masa Harina

    • Dried/Canned Beans (Pinto, Black, and Refried)

    • Tortillas (Corn and Flour)

    • Sauces & Pastes (Achiote Paste, Mole, Jarred Salsas)

    • Spices & Herbs (Ground Cumin, Coriander, and Bay Leaves)

    • Bouillon (Chicken, Tomato, or Beef)

    • Tostada Shells

    • Dried Chiles: Ancho, Guajillo, and Árbol

    • Pasta: Fideo (Vermicelli for soups)

    • Nuts/Seeds Pumpkin seeds (Pepitas) and peanuts

    • Mexican Chocolate (Ibarra or Abuelita)

    • Dates

  • Canned Meats and Shelf-Stable Protein

  • Soup

  • Pasta Sauce

  • Shelf-Stable Fruits

This list was last updated February 24th, 2026

Organize a food drive

Volunteer: At this time all of our volunteer shifts are currently filled. Please subscribe to our newsletter for updates (the link is at the bottom of this page!) and keep an eye on our social media for updates.