Initiative aims to provide 50,000+ culturally specific and ready-to-eat meals for Twin Cities families
MINNEAPOLIS (March 18, 2026) — Greater Twin Cities United Way (United Way) today announced the launch of its annual Flavors of Our Community initiative as families across the region continue to face significant barriers to accessing nutritious, familiar food. Recent SNAP benefit disruptions, persistently high food prices, and the impacts of Operation Metro Surge — which have limited many residents’ ability to reliably work or maintain income — have deepened financial strain for thousands of households.
To help meet this rising need, United Way is mobilizing volunteers, donors, corporate partners, and nonprofits across the region to ensure neighbors have access not just to food, but to meals that are nutritious and culturally meaningful as well as easy to prepare. This year, United Way aims to provide more than 50,000 meals through Flavors of Our Community.
Flavors of Our Community launches at a moment when food insecurity is both rising and increasingly visible. Nonprofit partners across the region continue to report a sharp increase in food-related requests. United Way’s 211 resource helpline also experienced a 197% increase in referrals to food resources in January. These challenges are especially acute for families seeking culturally familiar foods or those who need easy-to-eat items due to limited kitchen access.
Additionally, 35% of Minnesota households are ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) – people who are employed and working yet still cannot afford basic expenses. The combined strain of high food prices and disruptions to safety net programs means ALICE families are increasingly forced to choose between food, rent, utilities and transportation.
“Families are feeling pressure from all sides — from lost income to higher food costs to disruptions in essential safety net programs,” said John Wilgers, President and CEO of Greater Twin Cities United Way. “In a moment when so many are being stretched thin, Flavors of Our Community helps ensure that our neighbors have access not just to food, but to meals that are culturally meaningful as well as easy to prepare when necessary.”
Designed in partnership with local nonprofits, Flavors of Our Community reflects community identified priorities. Food shelves consistently emphasize that culturally specific foods and spices are among their most highly requested yet least available items. To fill this gap, Flavors of Our Community provides 16 culturally relevant pantry, spice and baking packs representing Afghan, East African, Indigenous, Karen, Latine and Southeast Asian food traditions, as well as ready-to-eat and snack packs for neighbors without reliable kitchen access.
“Our community wants to help — they just need clear pathways to act,” said Melissa Wilson, Associate Vice President of Advancement at Greater Twin Cities United Way, who leads volunteer efforts. “Flavors of Our Community makes it easy for neighbors, families and groups to make a difference. Every donation and volunteer helps ensure more people in our region have foods they love, know how to and can prepare.”
Community members can support Flavors of Our Community by:
“No matter where we live, the flavors we grew up with make us feel at home,” Wilgers added. “Thank you to every donor, volunteer and partner helping expand access to nutritious, culturally relevant foods and supporting long-term solutions to hunger in our region.”
Learn more and sign up to volunteer or donate at gtcuw.org/flavors.
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About Greater Twin Cities United Way
Greater Twin Cities United Way unites changemakers, advocates for social good, and develops solutions to address the challenges no one can solve alone to create a community where all people thrive regardless of income, race or place. For more information, visit gtcuw.org and follow us on LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Facebook and X.
