During the academic year, we collect food from local restaurants and make it into meals for people facing food insecurity. The meals are delivered to community agencies for them to distribute; with the exception of our Campus Kitchen Little Fridge, and bread cart, we don’t distribute the food directly to clients, just to the agencies. Our partner of closest proximity is the Campus Cupboard, managed by Crossroads Campus Ministry. We give them food just like we give to our other partners, but we also host a bread card and mini-fridge of food in the hallway of Crossroads. This provides the opportunity for people to pick up at least some food when Crossroads is open but Campus Cupboard is not open.
Please note: We are a program of MSU, Mankato; CK@MSU, Mankato rents space from Crossroads.
If you are a student facing food insecurity or have other emergency needs, you might check out the following resources:
Campus Kitchen at MSU, Mankato - In addition to the food we distribute to our partners, we distribute meals to students facing food insecurity via the Campus Kitchen Little Fridge. Food will be packaged and refrigerated, so you will need to find one of the microwave ovens on campus to warm it up. (We’ll direct you if you don’t know where they are.) For more information, please stop by the Community Engagement Office (CSU 173).
Address: 331 Dillon Avenue
Phone Number: (507) 389-6076
Crossroads Ministries - Programs to seek are the Campus Cupboard (Tuesdays from 11 am - 1 pm) and Lunch 4 $1 (Tuesdays from 11 am - 1 pm) Food can be picked up from CC once a week. Generally closed over December and spring breaks.
Address: 331 Dillon Avenue
Phone Number: (507) 625-6779
Echo Food Shelf - Emergency food provided 12 times per year. Recipients must register in advance.
Hours of operation
11:00am-4:30pm- M,T,W,F
9:00am-7:00pm- TH
Food Distribution Hours
12:30pm-4:30pm- M,T,W,F
Last appointment available at 4:15
10:30am-4:30pm- TH
Last appointment available at 6:30
Address: 1014 S Front St. Mankato, MN 56001
Phone Number: (507) 345-7508
Email: [email protected]
Salvation Army - Meals daily from 12-1 pm and holiday food baskets available.
Address: 700 S. Riverfront Dr. Mankato, Mn 56001
Phone Number: (507) 345-7840
Centenary Church - Their Holy Grounds program serves a fresh-hot breakfast Mon-Sat from 9-11 am
Address: 501 South Second Street, Mankato, MN 56001
Phone Number: (507) 225-6370
Food Not Bombs - This is an international program, but locally, they meet on Sundays during the academic year at the United Universalist Church.
Address: 937 Charles Ave, Mankato, MN 56001
Phone Number: (507)-388-5022
Blue Earth Co. Human Services -Provides SNAP and WIC sign up, food and emergency cash.
Address: 410 S. Fifth St., Mankato, Mn 56001
Phone Number: (507) 304-4435
SNAP OUTREACH Second Harvest Heartland Free SNAP Application Assistance. If you have questions about SNAP/Food Stamps, want to be screened, or are struggling with the application, please call: (507) 514-3535; toll free (844) 764-5513; main line (651) 209-7963. Provides resources in Spanish and Somali.
PACT Ministries - PACT’s Food for All program is once a month. Pay $5 for all the food you can fit into a basket or bag.
Address: 105 W. Lind St. Mankato, Mn 56003
Phone Number: (507) 387-7228
Fare for All - Fare for All is a food cooperative so the public may purchase wholesome food for 40-60% discount. The Mankato distribution site is located at 1124 N River Dr. Mankato, Mn 56003. Fare For All accepts cash, debit, credit, and EBT cards.
Phone Number: (763) 450-3880
Hours of operation: 3:30-5:30 every 3rd or 4th Monday of the month
Housing Assistance in Mankato is managed through a coordinated entry system. If you are looking for housing, it’s best to go to the entry point designated for your population (youth, families, veterans, etc.)
Housing one-stop-shop - Housing Benefits 101. Website: https://mn.hb101.org
The Reach - The REACH is a program for youth who identify as homeless, ages 16 to 24. The REACH is a program of Lutheran Social Services. 125 E. Liberty St. Mankato, Mn 56001 507-720-0331
Partners for Affordable Housing - PAH hosts two transition houses: Theresa House and Welcome Inn, for Women & Children Only. The program is managed year around. The houses are located at 419 and 423 S. Broad St., Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 387-8189
Minnesota Assistance Council for Veterans - MAC-V assists veterans of our military with a variety of services including housing. Tim Adams and David Schrader on campus a good starting points for services, but also consider contacting MAC-V, 724 Madison Avenue
Mankato, MN 56001
Committee Against Domestic Abuse - People fleeing domestic or sexual abuse should contact CADA via their 24hr Crisis (507)-625-7233, OR (507) 625-3966. For Victim Services, call (507) 625-8688. For security, the location of their offices/shelter is not made public.
City of Mankato Public Housing Services - This office manages Section 8 housing applications and other housing resources. 10 Civic Center Plaza, Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 387-8600
Seasonal Shelters (Generally November 1 - April 1):
Salvation Army (Men Only): The overnight shelter provides temporary, safe and warm housing accommodations for up to 33 adult men per night. The shelter is open seven days a week from 7:30 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. 700 S. Riverfront Drive, Mankato, MN 56001 (507) 345-7840
Connections Shelter (Women, Men, Families): This is a rotating overnight shelter during the cold-weather months. They are also on Facebook for quick contact. Check-in takes place at Centenary United Methodist Church, 501 S 2nd Street Mankato, MN 56001
Utilities and Related Support
Minnesota Valley Action Council- 706 N. Victory Dr., Mankato, Mn 56001, 1-800-767-7139
Minnesota Energy Assistance Program
General Information
Household must make less than 50% of the state median income
Size of the grant based on household size, income, fuel type and energy usage
People with the lowest income and highest fuel costs get highest grants
Funded by the Minnesota Department of Health and Human Services
Services
Grants available to renters and homeowners
Provides direct payments to energy providers
Educates consumers to use home heating energy efficiently and safety
Advocate with energy providers and human service providers on behalf of utility customers
Provides emergency heating system repair or replacement
For more information on eligibility guidelines, income guidelines, and to find your local Energy Assistance Program provider, visit https://mn.gov/commerce/consumers/consumer-assistance/energy-assistance/
Student Health Services - 21 Carkoski Commons, (507) 389-6276
MSU Dental Clinic - 128 Clinical Sciences Building , (507) 389-2147
MSU, Mankato Counseling Center - CSU 285, (507) 389-1455
Open Door Health - 309 Holly Ln. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 388-2120
Planned Parenthood- 201 N. Victory Dr. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 387-5581
Blue Earth Mental Health - 410 S. 5th St., Mankato, Mn 56001, (507) 304-4319
Counseling Services of Southern MN - 226 N. Broad St. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 931-8040
Vine Faith in Action- VINE Faith in Action can provide transportation to people ages 60 and older to medical appointments. The cost is 66 cents per mile. Call and ask for the transportation department to arrange a ride. 421 E. Hickory St. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 387-1666
Claim It!: Website: www.youclaimit.org or call 211
MSU, Mankato Bus Service - Because you are a student at MSU, Mankato, your student id serves as your bus pass. Learn more about the city-wide routes in Mankato from the MSU, M site.
Enterprise CarShare - This car sharing program is managed by Enterprise and Student Governement. Participants pay an annual fee and submit their application. Once they have been approved, they recieve a membership id card to use when making a reservation. When using the vehicle reserved, place the membership card over the card reader to gain entry to the car. At the conclusion of your reservation, return the car to it’s designated spot, and place the id card over the card reader to indicate you are done using the car. This program requires a relatively good driving record and access to a credit card.
People to Jobs - This service provides up to 6 months of transition service for people needing a ride to work, provided the pick up and drop off locations are on their routes. Cost is $3 per trip. 421 E. Hickory St. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 385-8127 Call and ask for transportation dept.
Mankato Heartland Express - 224 Lamm St. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 625-7433
Land-to-Air - 50 Sibley Pkwy. Mankato, Mn 56001 (507) 625-3977
Financial Services - Campus Hub, (507) 389-1866
Great Lakes Emergency Grant - Visit http://www.mnsu.edu/emergencygrant/application.html and contact one of the 40 grant advisors to begin the process
Blue Earth Co. Human Services -410 S. Fifth St., Mankato, Mn 56001, (507) 304-4435 (Provides SNAP sign up, food, and emergency cash)
Crisis Nursery - This program of Lutheran Social Servies is hotline working with the daycare and foster homes in the area to help find support. It’s not guaranteed, but the response time is usually within an hour. The parents would still need to drop off and pick up the child, have all the diapers, food, etc. Call 507-995-9259
Early Learning Scholarships and Day Care Information: Families First, Mankato Office: Address: 101 N 2nd Street #105, Mankato, MN 56001. Phone: 507.287.2020 Toll free: 1.800.462.1660. Website: http://www.familiesfirstmn.org/
https://mnsu.quadweb.site/giving/campus-kitchen
South Central Crisis Center Address: 521 Pfau St, Mankato, MN 56001. Phone number: 507-344-0621 or 877-349-3040
Services Provided: Serves as a 24 hour crisis line and mobile crisis team, provides short term residential crisis services, provides crisis stabilization services
Blue Earth County Crisis Intake and Case Management Service: Call 507-304-4319, and ask to speak to an adult mental health intake worker
Domestic Violence Hotline- 1-800-799-7233, toll free 1-800-787-3224
Family Planning and STD Hotline- 1-800-783-2287
National Su***de Prevention Hotline- 1-800-273-8255
Veteran Su***de Prevention Line- 1-800-273-8255
Blue Earth County Attorney's Office: Contact: Lisa Seifert Address: 401 Carver Rd, PO Box 3129, Mankato, MN 56002-3129 Email:[email protected] Website:www.co.blue-earth.mn.us/dept/attorney
Numbers: Main: (507) 304-4600: Other contacts: Colleen Baker; [email protected] and Renee Howard, [email protected]
Committee Against Domestic Violence: Address: Blue Earth County Victim Services PO Box 466, Mankato, MN 56002-0466 Contact: Jason Mack Email: [email protected] Website: www.cadamn.org. Numbers: Main: (507) 625-8688 Crisis: (800) 477-0466 Other: (507) 625-3966
Planned Parenthood of Mankato Address: 201 N. Victory Drive, Suite 211, Mankato, MN 56001. Phone number: 507-387-5581. Website:https://www.plannedparenthood.org/health-center/minnesota/mankato/56001/mankato-clinic-2797-90720.
Important note: Can make appointments online
Minnesota AIDS Project. Phone number: 1-800-248-2437 Website: http://www.mnaidsproject.org Text: AIDSLINE to 839863 Email: [email protected]
Rural AIDS Action Network (RAAN). Phone number: 1-800-966-9735. Website: www.raan.org
Minnesota Pharmacy Syringe Access Initiative. Website: www.health.state.mn.us/syringe
Services offered: Apply for Retirement Benefits, apply for Disability, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), apply for Medicare, help with Medicare Prescription drugs, check on application status, appeal a decision, obtain forms, obtain publications, obtain a Social
PLAZA STE 1550 MANKATO PLACE, MANKATO, MN 56001. Park free in Mankato Place ramp on Hickory Street and Riverfront Drive (Civic Center Plaza IS Hickory Street)
Hours: Monday-Friday: 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Saturday-Sunday: Closed
Last updated on 9-25-2018 by KRA, 5-6-2020 by BSS
