Statement from Nonprofit Hunger-Relief Organizations Serving Minnesota

JANUARY 28, 2026

Since the start of Operation Metro Surge in early December, the presence of thousands of federal ICE agents has brought chaos and violence to the communities we serve, leaving a growing number of our neighbors—including U.S. citizens—too afraid to leave their homes.

People are stranded and hungry. This cannot continue.

Minnesota is fortunate to have a strong and resilient hunger-relief network, especially in times of crisis such as this. However, with so many Minnesotans staying home for fear of being racially profiled, unlawfully detained, separated from their families or worse, we have had to scramble to find new ways to get emergency food to where it’s needed most. Minnesotans have shown up to keep one another fed. Yet at every turn, ICE has made it harder to get food to hungry neighbors, including by following volunteers doing food deliveries, standing outside food shelf entrances, staging from our parking lots or near our facilities, and, in at least one instance, detaining a volunteer. This is on top of the impact on child hunger from missed school meals.

Let us be clear: every Minnesotan—indeed, every human being—deserves to eat. That should not be a controversial statement, and it certainly isn’t a political one. As nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations, we represent a wide variety of viewpoints, beliefs, and life experiences. What we all share is a deep commitment to ending hunger in our communities, and every day that this federal operation continues moves us further from that goal.

For the above reasons, and out of deep concern for our neighbors, we stand united in calling for an immediate end to the surge in federal immigration activity in our state so that we can safely deliver food to neighbors in need and ensure that they can freely attend school and access healthcare and other lifesaving services without fear. Operation Metro Surge is hurting our neighbors, it is making us less safe, it is further dividing our communities, and it is making it harder to get food to Minnesotans in need. Our communities deserve better.

— Signatories —

360 Communities

Anoka County Brotherhood Council

Basic Needs Inc. of South Washington County

Battle Lake Emergency Food Shelf

BBE Area Food Shelf

Belgrade Avenue United Methodist Church

Bread of Life 

Bricelyn Food Pantry

Buffalo Food Shelf

Building Blocks of Islam

CAER Food Shelf

Calvary Food Shelf

CAPI USA

Caring For All Inc.

Change Inc.

Shiloh Cares Food Shelf

Comet’s Cupboard

Community Emergency Assistance Programs

Community Emergency Service (CES)

Community Pathways of Steele County

Create Catering 

CROSS Services

Department of Indian Work

Division of Indian Work

East African Dream Food Shelf

East Side Neighborhood Services

ECHO Food Shelf

Emma Norton Services

Every Meal

Eyota Food Pantry

Fhima’s Minneapolis

Foundation for Essential Needs

Friendship Community Services FoodHub 

Groveland EmergencyFood Shelf

Hastings Family Service

Haven Pantry 

Hometown Resource Center

Hope for the Community

Houston Community Food Shelf

Hunger Impact Partners

ICA Food Shelf

ICNA RELIEF

Joyce Uptown Food Shelf

KOOTASCA Community Action, Inc.

La Despensa

Le Center Food Shelf

Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf

Manna Food Pantry, Inc.

Manna Market/YouthWay Ministries

McGregor Area Food Shelf

McLeod Food Shelf

MCVC Food Shelf

Merrick Community Services

Mi C.A.S.A. MN

MinneHarvest

Mount Olivet Lab School, Inc. NOURISH

Murray County Food Shelf

Muslim American Society of Minnesota

NCBC Food Shelf

NEAR Food Shelf

Neighborhood House

Neighbors, Inc.

New Creations Ministries COGIC 

Norway Community Association

Open Arms of Minnesota

Open Cupboard

Open Hands Midway

Outreach Food Shelf

Pamoja Women Organization 

Pillsbury United Communities

People Reaching Out to Other People (PROP)

Ralph Reeder Food Shelf

Red Wing Area Food Shelf

Redwood Area Food Shelf Inc.

Rochester Community Church 

Second Harvest Heartland

Southern Anoka Community Services (SACA)

St. Louis Park Emergency Program

St. Andrew’s Community Resource Center

St. Philip’s Food and Clothing Shelf

Strandquist Food Shelf

The Aliveness Project

The Camden Promise 

The Corner Shelf

The Food Group

The Good Acre

The Kitchen at Trinity Lutheran Church, St. Peter Minnesota

The Open Door

The Salvation Army Minneapolis Central Corps

The Sanneh Foundation

Tri-Community Food Shelf

Uplift North

Urban Roots MN

Valley Outreach

VEAP, Inc.

Wright County Community Action (WCCA)

Western Communities Action Network (WeCAN)

White Bear Area Food Shelf

Statement on Second ICE Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

January 26, 2026

Merrick Community Services mourns the tragic and avoidable death of a second ICE Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis of Alex Pretti on January 24. Federal Officials have repeatedly put forward a narrative, which caused Susan and Michael Pretti to release a statement about their son. We cannot think of any more eloquent words to convey our sentiments and hope in the wake of this senseless crime.

Alex Pretti’s Parents’ Statement:

We are heartbroken but also very angry.

Alex was a kindhearted soul who cared deeply for his family and friends and also the American veterans whom he cared for as an ICU nurse at the Minneapolis VA hospital. Alex wanted to make a difference in the world. Unfortunately, he will not be with us to see his impact.

I do not throw around the “hero” term lightly. However, his last thought and act was to protect a woman. The sickening lies told about our son by the administration are reprehensible and disgusting. Alex is clearly not holding a gun when attacked by Trump’s murdering and cowardly ICE thugs. He had his phone in his right hand and his empty left hand is raised above his head while trying to protect the woman ICE just pushed down, all while being pepper sprayed.

Please get the truth out about our son. He was a good man. Thank you.

In addition to adding AMEN to the Pretti’s statement, we continue to call for a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation with local, state, and federal agencies to confirm what transpired to ensure justice for both Alex Pretti and Renee Good and their families.

Along with our local and state leaders and all people of goodwill, we implore (once again) ICE to leave Minnesota, to end further violence and cruelty, which has been predicted and is avoidable. ICE’s departure will allow us to overcome the fear and hatred and division that their presence has created.

Minnesota is better than this. America is better than this.

Statement on Recent ICE Fatal Shooting in Minneapolis

“The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command…..And if all others accepted the lie which the Party imposed – if all records told the same tale – then the lie passed into history and became truth.”  – 1984, George Orwell

“We shall overcome because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” -Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution, 1968

Merrick Community Services mourns the tragic and avoidable death of Renee Nicole Good, who was fatally shot by an ICE Agent in Minneapolis. We share with Renee and her neighbors an affinity and concern for our Latino and Somali brothers and sisters (and other People of Color), who ICE has been targeting in both Minneapolis and Saint Paul and throughout Minnesota with an unprecedented 2,000 Agents (and hundreds more just announced by DHS to be deployed that will only further inflame a grieving community). This has resulted in families being ripped apart and tremendous terror and great pain and fear among some of our most vulnerable members of our community.

We believe that Dr. King’s assertion that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice is true. And, we also know that we cannot reject the evidence of our eyes and ears, as George Orwell admonished.

We hope a thorough, transparent, and impartial investigation with local, state, and federal agencies will take place and confirm what transpired and ensure justice for Renee and her family. In the meantime, we will continue to offer (as we have for over 118 years) a variety of welcoming resources and services for immigrants, refugees, and other new arrivals to the East Side of Saint Paul and beyond. Everyone we are privileged to serve deserves to feel safe and welcomed and celebrated for the innate value they bring to our community. We are, indeed, growing stronger together.

Along with our local and state leaders and all people of goodwill, we implore ICE to leave Minnesota, to end further violence and cruelty, which has been predicted and is avoidable. ICE’s departure will allow us to overcome the fear and hatred and division that their presence has created.

Minnesota is better than this. America is better than this. 

 

ABOUT

This March, WCCO-TV is honored to partner with Merrick Community Servicesfor the Fill That Truck Food Drive. This critical campaign raises donations and shines a spotlight on the pressing issue of food insecurity in our neighborhoods.

Merrick Community Services is a non-profit organization that has been providing hope and support to residents on Saint Paul’s East Side since 1908. Families from all backgrounds can visit Merrick to pick up groceries and learn about housing and employment resources. Their food shelf currently serves 80-100 families 4 days per week.

For this year’s food drive, there’s a special emphasis on the importance of donating culturally specific food items to ensure all families have access to the foods they know and love.

We need your help! From now until April 6, you can donate online or drop off food at Merrick.

FOOD DROP-OFF LOCATIONS

Merrick Community Services will be collecting non-perishable food items from March 1 to April 6. You can drop off your items at Merrick’s offices or Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op.

Merrick Community Services:
1669 Arcade Street North, Door 3, St. Paul, MN 55106
(651) 287-2088

Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Friday CLOSED

Mississippi Market Natural Foods Co-op:
740 E 7th St, St Paul, MN 55106
(651) 310-9499

Hours:
Monday – Sunday 7:30 a.m.-9:00 p.m.

Click here to learn more about the food drive or offer financial support.

If you have any additional questions, feel free to contact WCCO Community Relations Manager, Korinne Dennis at korinne.dennis@cbs.com.

FOOD NEEDS

Shopping List

Families from all backgrounds can visit Merrick to pick up groceries and learn about housing and employment resources. This is where we need your help!

Why Culturally Specific Items Matter: Merrick serves a diverse community, and many families rely on culturally familiar food staples to nourish themselves and their loved ones. These include items like:

·        Canola oil, Rice vinegar, or any other cooking oils

·        Dried chilies, Cajun seasonings

·        Cooking Sauces- Tamari, Oyster Sauce

·        Canned Mackerel, Chicken, Smoked Squid or other fishes

·        Canned Bamboo tips, Apple Brand Sweet Rice, Rice Noodles

The need for these items is greater than ever. Your donations will help provide the resources that ensure every family feels supported and respected, no matter their background.

         

August 7, 2023

Merrick Community Services
1669 Arcade Street, Suite #4
St. Paul, MN 55106

RE:  Press Release-Learn & Earn Entrepreneur Program

Merrick Community Services, in cooperation with our partner at LEDC, is proud to announce our Learn & Earn Entrepreneur Program.  This program will provide Ramsey County participants, ages 18-30, with career-readiness skills, exposure to different types of entrepreneur pathways, such as food, retail, and trades, along with professional services exposure to various businesses and franchises.  Financial education, professional development, and other employment and life skills are also included in the paid training.  Professional work experience and shadowing opportunities are included.  Additional support services are also available.

Participants will be compensated for the time they are learning within the program, as well as the time they spend in training.

Training Location:  LEDC-Latino Economic Development Center (804 Margaret Street, St. Paul, MN 55106)

Important Dates:  Recruiting until 10/20/23.

Projected Class Start Date: 11/6/23

Contact the following for more information:

Merrick Community Services
Alison Hruby
Email:    ahruby@merrickcs.org
Phone:  651-243-6725 (Please leave voicemail message)

Or view the information on our website:
https://merrickcs.org/community-services/careers/

 


Program Funded by the American Rescue Plan Act