The Open Door

A fresh approach to ending local hunger.

We believe that everyone deserves access to healthy food. The Open Door is Dakota County’s largest hunger relief organization, powered by neighbors helping neighbors. We make sure everyone who needs it has access to the freshest, healthiest food – delivered with dignity and care.

Each month, we serve 25,000 people across Dakota County, and in 2024, we distributed more than 4.5 million pounds of food. We focus solely on fresh, perishable, and nourishing options, with over 75% of the food we distribute being fresh.

Double or Triple your gift today! 

We have a special opportunity to take advantage of $25,000 in matching funds for all new or increased gifts from a generous donor! Along with, $50,000 in matching funds from the Gustafson Family Foundation.

During this time of the government shutdown and pause on SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, The Open Door has stepped up and is implementing an emergency action plan to get food into the hands of those who need it. Clients are able to access healthy food choices at 70 different sites across Dakota County including a fixed-site food pantry in Eagan, multiple Mobile Food sites, the Mobile Lunchbox program during the summer, and our Garden to Table program. Your financial gift to The Open Door directly supports people across Dakota County by helping us secure and distribute fresh, healthy food 5 days/week. 

Please give today and help us raise the $900,000 needed to end the year strong during the government shutdown and pause on SNAP benefits, along with being positioned to do even more in 2026!

YOUR DONATIONS AT WORK

• $100.00 provides two weeks of groceries for three families. 
• $50.00 provides 10 lunches for students who rely on our Mobile Lunchbox during the summer
• $15.00 provides a family with an Emergency Food Support bag containing pantry staples, fresh produce, protein, milk, and eggs (retail value approximately $61)

THE OPEN DOOR'S IMPACT

• The Open Door recently increased food access points at its fixed-site pantry from 500 available appointments a month in November 2024 to 600+ a month - a 20% increase!
• The Open Door distributed 4.6 million pounds of food in 2024, the highest amount ever.
• The Open Door is growing! In 2025 we added an additional Drive-Thru option on Fridays, serving an additional 75 families a week.
• The Mobile Lunchbox program provided 28,000 meals to students across six school districts in the summer of 2025. Meals were delivered in high-need Dakota County neighborhoods where the absence of daily school lunch was hitting the hardest.

  Contribute today! Your gift helps The Open Door continue to be a reliable source of fresh and healthy food.

The Open Door is a 501(c)3 organization. Your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.