Free food made available by restaurants, organizations 

Amid school closures businesses step up

Junior+Kate+Gage+packs+food+for+students+who+need+food+while+school+is+out+of+session+because+of+the+COVID-19+school+cancelation+and+spring+break.+The+Birdfeeder+program+collected+food+donations+March+16.+According+to+an+announcement+March+16%2C+Park+students+can+pick+up+a+bag+of+groceries+in+the+main+office+after+school.

Carissa Prestholdt

Junior Kate Gage packs food for students who need food while school is out of session because of the COVID-19 school cancelation and spring break. The Birdfeeder program collected food donations March 16. According to an announcement March 16, Park students can pick up a bag of groceries in the main office after school.

Talia Lissauer

Updated as of 11 a.m. March 16.

In light of Governor Tim Walz closing all Minnesota schools March 18-27, many restaurants across Minnesota have announced they will be providing free lunches for students who qualify for free/reduced lunches, according to KSTP.

The St. Louis Park Public Schools nutrition department will be offering free food to students under 18 years old, according to a March 16 letter. Students and families can pick up lunch, along with breakfast for the next morning, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. weekdays at all six St. Louis Park Public Schools and the community center.

Dunn Brothers Coffee along with Westbridge Community Church in St. Michael will be giving out lunches in the Westbridge parking lot from 11-1pm.

318 Cafe in Excelsior is serving sandwiches with a side of fruit to children in need.

Great harvest in Maple Grove will be providing bread and goody bags to families in need. 

Umi Sushi and Hibachi in Blaine is offering free kid’s size lo mein and a fountain drink from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. for children in need.

Cafe Cravings in White Bear Lake will be providing sandwiches and potato chips from 10 a.m.-2 p.m.

Coconut Whisk Baking Co. is offering a week’s worth of pancake and waffle mixes for free. 

Que Viet in Minneapolis is serving fried rice for free beginning March 18.

Granite City Food & Brewery in Roseville and St. Cloud is serving sandwiches, chips and applesauce to all children in need.

Prince of Peace Lutheran Church has partnered with VIVO Kitchen to provide lunches beginning March 26. 

Maneas Meats in Sauk Rapids is serving lunches containing sandwiches, chips and bottled water at 11 a.m.

Day by day cafe in St. Paul will be offering hot dogs and chips for kids beginning March 16.

Piada Italian Street Food, in Eagan, Woodbury and the Mall of America will be serving free pasta and sauce, cheese and a fountain drink from 10:45 a.m.-1 p.m. until April 3.

Billy’s on Grand in St. Paul will be providing free kids meals for kids 14 years old and under. 

Trapper’s Bar and Grill in Lino Lakes is offering free bag lunch, chips and applesauce beginning March 17.

Chapala Mexican Restaurant in Cambridge will be providing free lunch to children in need beginning March 22.

Frankie’s in New Hope is offering free lunches for children who dine in and and will be handing out free bag lunches. 

Suzie’s Kitchen in Rosemount is offering free meals to those who request one. 

Eggroll Queen Cafe in Falcon Heights is serving free egg roll, fruit and friend rice until March 27.

Ernie’s on Gull in Brainerd and Main Street Ale House in Nisswa have partnered with US food to provide a balanced meal to all children beginning March 16.

HaLong Bay in White Bear Lake is providing free meals to kids who have a free and reduced lunch from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. until March 27.

Whiskey Inferno in Savage and Prior Lake will be offering lunches containing a sandwich, fruit cup, chips, a cookie and milk beginning March 17. The restaurants will also be collecting food for a local food shelf.

Manger Restaurant and Wine Bar in Bayport will be offering a bagged lunch including sandwiches, banana, carrots peanut butter crackers and a juice box. Lunch will be left on the patio for pick up.

Topper’s Pizza in Blaine will be serving a small pizza for free during their lunch hours.

Bourbon Butcher in Farmington will be [providing lunches consisting of sandwiches, a fruit cup, chips, a cookie and milk beginning March 17. Bourbon Butcher will also be collecting food for the Farmington food drive.

Rascals Bar and Grill in Apple Valley will provide free boxed lunches from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

El Tejaban in Richfield will be providing free kids meals to kids under 15 from 11 a.m.-5 p.m. until April 1

Maya Cuisine NE in Minneapolis, Station 280 in St. Paul, Mario’s Italian Kitchen in Watertown, Peoples Organic in Minneapolis, Edina and Eden Prairie, Bunkers of Course in Buffalo, 4 Seasons Restaurant in Mahtomedi, Pog Mahone’s Pub in Minneapolis, Fitger’s Brewhouse in Duluth and Mediterranean Cruise Café in Burnsville will be providing meals as well.