Resources
Families here in Minnesota, as well as around the country and world, are navigating through ongoing uncertainty, stress and trauma as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The resources on this page are designed to help families and professionals support both their own mental health as well as the mental health of the children in their care as this public health crisis unfolds.
COVID-19 HOTLINE
A bilingual Spanish/English COVID hotline has now been established. The number is (651) 302-6145.
Links to find emergency food support, including local food shelves and information on how to apply for assistance.
Food Shelf Assistance (Click the Arrow for a List of Resources)
CROSS Food Shelf - Rogers
Food assistance, financial assistance, Meals on Wheels, kid’s programs, clothing and more
Mobile food pantry at Alleluia Church in St. Michael on 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 2-4 pm
Other locations available. See site on how to access other services
CAER Food Shelf - Elk River
Effective March 30, hours will be M-W-F 10-Noon and Th 5:30-7 pm
Please call 763-441-1020 for additional information
Additional food for families with school age youth will be available for curbside pickup.
CLOSED Thursday and Friday, April 9 and 10
Partnership with The Sheridan Story
M-F from 8:30am to 5:00pm. Familes can pick up a free bag of food.
Supplies are limiited and do not need to be member.
Elk River YMCA is part of this project.
MSP Food for Children During Closure - available to all children under the age of 18 (partnership with Sheridan Story)
M-F 10am - 2pm pickups
Each box contains 5 breakfasts and 5 lunches for a total of 10 meals. Welcome to take 1 box per child, per week.
Look for the yellow school bus at all MSP food pickup sites.
Ensure your household has adequate refrigeration to store food.
St. Paul's Food Shelf - Hanover
St. Paul’s Lutheran Education Unit - Corcoran, MN (763) 498-0086
Call to ensure hours or methods of pickup have not changed
Hours: First and third Mondays 5PM -7PM, Tuesdays 12PM - 2PM, Wednesdays 10AM - 2PM, Fridays 12PM - 2PM
Catholic Charities: call 320-229-4584 for delivered frozen meals
Wright County Food Pantry/Shelf Listings
Clearwater/Clear Lake Emergency Food Shelf: 320-558-2954
Becker Food Shelf: 763-261-4612
Big Lake food Shelf: call 763-263-2432
Princeton Pantry Food Shelf: call 763-631-3578
Located at 104 6th Ave S in Princeton
Hours: Monday and Wednesday 1:00-3:00pm Fridays 9:00-11:00am
***Need to provide proof of address and household income
Emergency situations can call 763-389-2777 or 763-389-3222
Salvation Army St. Cloud: call 320-252-4552
MN Food Helpline: 1-888-711-1151, Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Multilingual assistance. They assess your situation and provide solutions to help meet your family’s food needs.
Faith Community Church
Zimmerman
Faith Pantry is open on Thursdays from 7:30 a.m. to 9:15 am. Distribution does not start till 9:00 am.
Located at Faith Community Lutheran Church, 12266 255th Ave, Zimmerman, MN. (3/4 mile south of the Zimmerman stoplight on HWY 169.)
To learn more, contact Lisa L. Brix (763) 772-5288 at any time.
Passing the Bread
Zimmerman
Distribution is on the last Saturday of the month. Next few dates: Sat. March 28th 2020 & Sat. April 25th 2020
Urgent needs can contact Dana 763-568-5114 or Dave 612-226-2779
Free Kid Meals in Twin Cities Metro Area - Compiled by Twin Cities Metro Community
Qualities that Promote Resilience (MACMH - Dr. Anne Gearity)
Resilience kids realize that others help.
Ability to have a plan - to want something.
Being aware that I'm doing this is important - ownership.
Selective efforts - with permission to not do sometimes. Too hard to try all the time.
Reflection - growing ability to look inside, to consider what's going on for me; for children, this is supplemented by caring adults.
Social and Emotional Learning During COVID
How Mindfulness Can Help During COVID-19 (Child Mind Institute): Tips for calming anxiety during a difficult time.
Helping Children Cope With Changes Resulting From COVID-19 (NASP): Tips for guiding children through difficulty coping with change.
What to Do (and Not Do) when Children are Anxious (Child Mind Institute): How parents can respect feelings without empowering fears.
The Power of the Pause: Helping Your Child Learn About Mindfulness in This Stressful Time (APA's Magination Press): Helpful tips for teaching mindfulness to children and teens.
Coronavirus Parenting: Managing Anger and Frustration (Child Mind Institute): How to maintain your cool during stressful times.
How to Handle Tantrums and Meltdowns (Child Mind Institute): Tips for helping children learn better ways to express powerful emotions
How to Change Negative Thinking Patterns (Child Mind Institute): Recognizing unhealthy thinking errors called 'cognitive distortions." Children can be their own worst critics and can get stuck in negative thinking. This article gives you some ideas on how to shift this perspective.
How to Help Your Kids Handle Disappointment (Child Mind Institute): Tools for coping with disappointment during the coronavirus crisis.
Will my Child Bounce Back from the Coronavirus Crisis? (Child Mind Institute): Trauma, resilience and how parents can help.
SEL TIPS FOR PARENTS TO SUPPORT ONLINE LEARNING
7 Tips for Supporting Remote Learning
Help kids keep focused, interested, and balanced
17 Apps to Help Kids Stay Focused
Virtual Learning Anxiety
How to Motivate Teens During Online Learning
The Coping Skills Toolbox
Practice Advice for Helping your Students Focus During Online Learning - 3 minutes
