The Open Door Pantry

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About Us

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The Open Door

The Open Door is a hunger relief organization dedicated to ending local hunger through access to healthy food. Through its collective programs, The Open Door serves more than 14,000 Dakota County residents each month, and distributes over 2 million pounds of food annually, 70% of which is fresh and/or perishable. Clients are able to access healthy food choices through a fixed-site food pantry in Eagan, multiple Mobile Pantry sites, the Mobile Lunch Box, and the Garden To Table program. Take a quick tour of our programs below.

The Pantry, Eagan
The Open Door’s core mission is “a healthy food approach to ending local hunger through access to healthy food”. At our Pantry in Eagan and on our Mobile Pantry, milk, eggs, dairy, meat, chicken, fish, bakery, fruits and vegetables are offered to food insecure families at every visit. At least 70% of the food offered is fresh and perishable. Families select their own food, as no food is pre-bagged for the client.
The Mobile Pantry
The Mobile Pantry is an innovative approach to providing food support to those who lack reliable transportation. The Mobile Pantry travels to designated sites on a pre-arranged schedule, one neighborhood at a time, eliminating transportation and mobility barriers. At some sites, individuals and families select healthy, wholesome food from our freshly-stocked bus lined with pantry shelves. At other locations, clients select fresh food and non-perishable items from tables set up inside existing community structures, like a school or senior living facility. Like our Eagan Pantry food shelves, 70% of the food offered is fresh and perishable.
The Mobile Lunch Box
The Mobile Lunch Box is a new one-of-a-kind approach to addressing children’s hunger in the summertime when parents are at work and children are not in school accessing free and reduced meal programs. The Mobile Lunch Box brings free healthy lunches to neighborhoods across Dakota County. Kids also receive a bag of healthy food to take home with them.

Garden To Table
With 12 sites and more than 300 plots, Garden To Table® is a sustainable approach to eliminating hunger and promotes improved access to fresh garden produce for families in need of food support through 1) adoptable plots—garden plots, seeds, plants, and tools are available for food shelf clients at no cost and 2) giving gardens—churches, schools and businesses provide fresh garden produce for the Pantry.

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Latest News

Grow Hope – A Sustainable, Predictable Way to Support The Open Door

The Open Door’s Legacy Volunteers – Part One

Food Shelves Struggle to Keep Up with Demand

Top 3 Most Needed Volunteer Roles at The Open Door this Winter

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3000 Ames Crossing Rd. Suite 100 Eagan, MN 55121 | Phone Number 651-686-0787

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