NEighborhood Spotlight: Little Kitchen Food Shelf

Get to know your Northeast Neighbors! Little Kitchen Food Shelf is a no-boundaries, no-restrictions food shelf serving NE Minneapolis and beyond.

Little Kitchen Food Shelf (LKFS) was originally located in the Emanuel church building on 13th and Monroe streets. From 2008 to 2010, they worked out of a tiny room in the basement, a former daycare kitchenette dubbed the “little kitchen,” distinguishing it from the bigger church kitchen in the 100-year-old building. Naturally “Little Kitchen” made a good name for a food pantry!

In 2009 Grace Lutheran formed a non-profit, Grace Center for Community Life, and purchased the former Holland Elementary School building at 15th Ave and 6th St NE. LKFS moved into the building in 2010. Shifting just a half mile closer to the center of economic need in lower Northeast, to a much more visible location, meant service numbers increased. National economic conditions resulted in thousands of new clients seeking assistance at food shelves for the first time. By 2012, LKFS was serving over 1,000 individuals per month. Fifty percent of the individuals served are children.

LKFS is a food shelf with no geographic boundaries; it does not matter where you live when you go to them for food. Unlike many other food pantries, LKFS doesn’t require identification, proof of address or any private information other than your name in order to receive food. Open eight hours a week, any household can receive food once every four weeks. Another difference that sets LKFS apart from other food security organizations is they accept and distribute cat and dog food for companions of those in need.

Eastside and LKFS have had a long relationship, dating back to 2008 and the beginnings of the food shelf. Initially, culled produce was donated directly to the food shelf. Today, produce, bread, and other unsalable items find their way to LKFS through another community partner, TC Food Justice. We also have donation bins stations yearround at the front the co-op, where you can donate pet food and shelf stable food items to go directly to LKFS. Additionally, Little Kitchen Food Shelf is our March Seedlings recipient during Minnesota FoodShare Month. Donate at the register during your trips to the co-op throughout the month of March and round up to support this important work in our community.