Another no-pay store featuring ‘fresh and healthy food’ opens in Oakdale

Mary Divine, Pioneer Press
·1 min read

Another store dedicated to giving away donated food has opened in Oakdale.

Today’s Harvest will be stocked with fruits, vegetables, meat, deli items and bakery goods — and any other food donated from grocery stores. It is the second Today’s Harvest to open in Oakdale; the first location opened in 2018.

Both stores are sponsored by the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf.

“With rapidly rising food costs and living expenses, there is a growing number of people in the Twin Cities and beyond who are struggling to afford fresh and healthy food,” said Jessica Francis, executive director. “This model provides a much-needed connection for free, fresh food that otherwise would go to waste.”

Today’s Harvest has no rules limiting the frequency of visits or what can be taken. No proof of income or residency is required.

The new store, located at 8264 Fourth St., will provide a supply of items “that will last for a day or two,” Francis said. “People are welcome to come back as often as they need to keep their refrigerators stocked with fresh and healthy food.”

The food items being offered will vary each day depend on what is received each morning from local grocery stores, but the market will always offer fresh produce, frozen meat, milk, bread and bakery items, she said.

The original Today’s Harvest, located 5703 Hadley Ave., serves up to 260 households daily, with shoppers coming from more than 135 different zip codes, Francis said.

The stores are run primarily by volunteers and are open six days a week: noon to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday.

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For more information, go to www.todaysharvestmn.org.