As residents continue to face a stay-at-home order due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Crow Wing County Community Services in partnership with Crow Wing Energized reminds individuals that access to healthy food is available through a number of resources.
Residents can search for their nearest food pantry or grocer on the Crow Wing Energized Website-COVID 19 Resources page: http://crowwingenergized.org/covid-19/
Some local grocery stores offer special shopping hours for seniors and individuals with disabilities. The following is not a complete list of stores in Crow Wing County offering special shopping hours. Contact a local grocery store or food retailer to verify. Consider using a credit or debit card as this is a more sanitary option for consumers and staff.
Costco: Costco is open from 8-9 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday for members 60+ and those with physical impairments. The pharmacy is open during this time but the food court is closed.
Walmart: Senior shopping hour is one hour before the store opens every Tuesday for customers 60+ (includes pharmacy and vision centers). No-contact pickup and delivery are available. Ordering of groceries is available online or in the app anytime.
Cub: Health care professionals, first responders, elderly and high risk customers can shop from 6-7 a.m. Cub has online shopping and grocery delivery. Available delivery hours may vary. Delivery times are chosen at checkout.
ALDI: Aldi opens at 8:30 Tuesdays and Thursdays to reserve the first hour for vulnerable shoppers, including senior citizens, expectant mothers and those with underlying health conditions.
Target: Target reserves the first hour on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for elderly shoppers and those with underlying health concerns. Target partners with CVS to have the pharmacy open.
SuperOne Foods: SuperOne asks all shoppers to respect the request to reserve the hours from the store opening until 8 a.m. to be available for those who are at higher risk of severe illness due to COVID-19.
Those who are unable to access any of the resources above and have no other safe means to access food can call Crow Wing County Community Services at 218-824-1140 weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. to speak to someone about possible food options.
For some, the loss of income is the largest barrier to meeting their food needs. Those who are facing such circumstances can seek help from Crow Wing County’s public assistance programs, including:
Cash assistance for families; MN Family Investment Program: 218-824-1250.
Supplement Nutrition Assistance Program for food purchases for families and individuals: 218-824-1250.
General Assistance: Cash assistance for individuals over 18 with no children and with no or limited resources: 218-824-1250.
Women Infants Children program, a supplemental food and nutrition program for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and postpartum women and children under age 5 who have a nutritional risk: 218-824-1073.
For more information, contact Gina Heyer, Crow Wing County long-term care program supervisor at 218-824-1237 or gina.heyer@crowwing.us ; or Karen Johnson, Crow Wing Energized program director, at 218-828-7443 or Karen.Johnson@EssentiaHealth.org.
