Twin Cities food drives find new ways to reach needy families Health clinics, churches, rec centers step in to fill empty stomachs in hard times January 30, 2021 5:29pm Text size Copy shortlink:
Some St. Paul health clinics are providing more than doctor visits and flu shots this winter. They re also handing out potatoes, as well as apples, canned fruit and toilet paper.
Minnesota Community Care s clinics, which mostly support low-income people of color and immigrants, have launched new food pickups outside clinics to serve hundreds of families in need.
It s part of a broader shift to expand access to food closer to home and at familiar spots from clinics and churches to libraries and city halls during the COVID-19 pandemic, which has worsened Minnesota s hunger crisis.
How Minnesota pro teams are distributing $40 million in pledges to fight systemic racism
By Star Tribune staff Text size Copy shortlink:
MINNESOTA TWINS
The Pohlad Foundation announced $25 million in grants to organizations focused on social justice and police reform.
How much has been spent: About $3 million. The foundation plans to spend the rest within five years.
Where has it gone: Primarily rebuilding damaged property in Minneapolis and St. Paul, also public safety initiatives in partnership with the Minneapolis Foundation.
Other spending: The Twins announced $380,000 in grants to 26 community organizations focusing on social equity by addressing opportunity gaps for Minnesota youth.
Minnesota conference exhibit maker made COVID equipment to survive 2020 January 10, 2021 2:00pm Text size Copy shortlink:
Until last March, nParallel was in the business of making booths, kiosks, stages and other equipment that brings people together at trade shows and conferences.
To survive the COVID-19 outbreak and recession, the Fridley-based company resorted to building dividers, shields and other things to separate and protect people. By last March, we had trucks loaded with equipment turn around as conferences canceled, said Don Gonse, an engineer and co-founder of the 18-year-old company. By April, we were scared that we wouldn t be able to come out of this. We had expenses. We were just watching the burn rate of our cash and wondering when business would come back.