The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive kicks off Feb. 27 with $25k match
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The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive kicks off Feb. 27, 2026 to support Minnesota families without enough food to eat.
To help ignite early support for the monthlong drive, a local family foundation has provided $25,000 worth of matching dollars – allowing your online gift to provide twice the food for local families in need. You can also support the drive by donating food, volunteering, starting a food drive, or rounding up at Cub grocery stores. (Full details on how to help are listed at bottom.)
This year’s food collection is critically important: About 1 in 5 Minnesota families are now relying on food shelves to make ends meet. Additionally, Minnesotans made a record 9 million visits to food shelves in 2024 – a 20 percent increase from the previous year’s record number of visits.
One of those visitors is 78-year-old Diane in Apple Valley. She lives on just $968 per month, most of which goes toward paying taxes and utilities for the house she’s lived in for 55 years. With little money left for food, she comes to The Salvation Army for enough groceries to get her through each month.
“Thank you to the people who donate,” said Diane (pictured). “Without you, many of us would be starving.” (Watch a video about Diane.)
Because of your gifts, The Salvation Army is uniquely positioned to serve thousands of hungry people and families throughout Minnesota. We are one of the state’s largest providers of emergency food services, with hot meal programs and 25 statewide food pantries that annually provide nearly 3 million meals for Minnesotans in need.
“We humbly ask the community to give generously to this year’s food drive so that we can keep our pantries stocked throughout 2026,” said Lt. Col. Randall Polsley, leader of The Salvation Army Northern Division.
How to Help
Please support The Salvation Army’s Annual Food Drive by donating nonperishables, hosting a food drive, giving a cash donation, volunteering, or rounding up at Cub grocery stores. Your generosity will fill the stomachs of Minnesotans hungry for help.
Donate food in the Twin Cities by dropping off nonperishables such as pasta, peanut butter, and canned goods Feb. 27–March 27 at your local Salvation Army or at these partner locations:
Donate food in greater Minnesota by dropping off nonperishable foods Feb. 27–March 27 at your local Salvation Army Worship and Service Center.
Donate online: Help us feed local families by giving online. Your donation will be used to purchase food for Salvation Army food pantries nearest to your billing ZIP code. Just $25 feeds a hungry family of three for a week.
Round up at Cub: Shop at local Cub grocery stores in March and round up your purchase to support our food drive. Any amount you give will have a big impact when combined with other Cub shoppers who choose to contribute.
Host a food drive: Collect nonperishable foods from friends, neighbors, coworkers, church members, and others. Drop off the food you collect at your local Salvation Army or our partner locations. Download a Food Drive toolkit.
Volunteer: Do you have time to spare? Support our food drive by helping us unload delivery vehicles, weigh food, stock shelves, and more. Sign up to volunteer.
To learn more about The Salvation Army's Annual Food Drive, please visit meals4mn.org.