Senior Dining Provides Curbside Frozen Meal Distribution Across Central Minnesota in April

March 31, 2021

Catholic Charities Senior Dining has organized Frozen Meal Distribution pop-up locations for the month of April across Central Minnesota, with meals for seniors age 60 and over available at 27 locations, including Askov, Avon, Big Lake, Brainerd, Crosby, Foley, Hinckley, Little Falls, Long Prairie, Milaca, Mora, North Branch, Ogilvie, Paynesville, Pierz, Pillager, Rush City, Sandstone, Sartell, St. Cloud, St. Joseph, Staples and Wadena.


  • Brainerd: Thursday, April 1, 11 am to 1 pm — Brainerd Lakes Salvation Army, 208 S 5th St, Brainerd, MN 56401
  • Avon: Monday, April 5, 1 to 2 pm — Avon Food Shelf, 212 1st St SW, Avon, MN 56310
  • Ogilvie: Tuesday, April 6, 11 am to 12 pm — Ogilvie Museum, 102 N Hill Ave, Ogilvie, MN 56358
  • Mora: Tuesday, April 6, 12 to 1 pm — First Presbyterian Church, 551 S Wood St, Mora, MN 55051
  • Brainerd: Wednesday, April 7, 11 am to 12:30 pm — North Star Apartments, 410 E River Rd, Brainerd, MN 56401
  • Wadena: Thursday, April 8, 1 to 2 pm — Immanuel Lutheran Church, 403 2nd St SE, Wadena, MN 56482
  • Milaca: Thursday, April 8, 2 to 3:30 pm — Alliance Church, 12543 MN-23, Milaca, MN 56353
  • Hinckley: Friday, April 9, 10 to 11:30 am — Hinckley Community Center, 102 Dunn Ave N, Hinckley, MN 55037
  • Little Falls: Friday, April 9, 10 to 11 am — Little Falls Senior Center, 510 7th St NE, Little Falls, MN 56345
  • North Branch: Saturday, April 10, 9:30 to 11:30 am — Ruby's Pantry, 4359 392nd St, North Branch, MN 55056
  • Foley: Monday, April 12, 11 am to 1 pm — Foley Area CARE, 321 6th Ave, Foley, MN 56329
  • St. Cloud: Monday, April 12, 11 am to 1 pm — First Presbyterian Church, 340 5th Ave S, St. Cloud, MN 56301
  • St. Cloud: Tuesday, April 13, 1 to 3 pm — Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Rd, St Cloud, MN 56301
  • Sartell: Wednesday, April 14, 9:30 am to 11 am — Sartell Community Center, 125 Pine Cone Rd N, Sartell, MN 56377
  • Rush City: Thursday, April 15, 10 to 11:30 am at Sacred Heart Catholic Church, 425 S Frandsen Ave, Rush City, MN 55069
  • Pillager: Thursday, April 15, 12 to 4 pm — Pillager Area Family Center, 305 Fir Ave, Pillager, MN 56473
  • Sandstone: Thursday, April 15, 1 to 2:30 pm — Pine Habilitation and Supported Employment, Inc. (PHASE), 106 Main St, Sandstone, MN 55072
  • Staples: Thursday, April 15, 2 to 5:30 pm — Lakewood Health System (Senior Campus by gazebo), 401 Prairie Ave NE, Staples, MN 56479
  • Crosby: Monday, April 19, 10:30 am to 12 pm — Cuyuna Regional Medical Center, 320 E Main St, Crosby, MN 56441
  • Askov: Tuesday, April 20, 1 to 3 pm — Askov Community Center, 6369 Kobmagergade, Askov, MN 55704
  • Long Prairie: Wednesday, April 21, 10 to 11:30 am — Long Prairie Food Distribution Center, 127 Central Ave, Long Prairie, MN 56347
  • Pierz: Friday, April 23, 10 am to 12 pm — Fellowship Bible Church, 12876 MN-25, Pierz, MN 56364
  • Sartell: Monday, April 26, 8 to 10:30 am — Celebration Lutheran Church, 1500 Pine Cone Rd N, Sartell, MN 56377
  • Big Lake: Monday, April 26, 10 am to 12 pm — Big Lake Township’s Lions Park, 21960 Co Rd 5, Big Lake, MN 55309
  • St. Cloud: Tuesday, April 27, 1 to 3 pm — Catholic Charities Emergency Services, 157 Roosevelt Rd, St Cloud, MN 56301
  • Paynesville: Wednesday, April 28, 1 to 2:30 pm — Green Roof Area Center, 1105 W Main St, Paynesville, MN 56362
  • St. Joseph: Thursday, April 29, 10:30 am to 12 pm — Resurrection Lutheran Church, 610 Co Rd 2, St Joseph, MN 56374

The Senior Dining Frozen Meal Expansion Project started in August 2020 and additional pop-up locations are continually being added. At the time of writing, 27 locations for the month of April are currently scheduled. Visit ccstcloud.org/events for the most up-to-date information. The project is partially funded under a contract with the Central Minnesota Council on Aging as part of the Older Americans Act.

These healthy and nutritious frozen meals meet one-third of the recommended daily allowance for seniors, and are packaged in oven-safe containers that are easy to heat and eat in both conventional and microwave ovens. Meals are available in quantities of 10 and up to 30 per calendar month. Participants must be 60 years of age and older to be eligible, and all clients must complete an annual registration form. There is no cost to participate; however, donations will be accepted.

Catholic Charities Receives Minnesota DHS Circle of Excellence Award

In November 2020, Catholic Charities was awarded the Minnesota Department of Human Services Circle of Excellence award, which recognizes six organizations that have partnered with DHS and done an exemplary job of providing food, shelter and other assistance to Minnesotans in need.

The award recognizes that Catholic Charities—specifically, its Senior Dining program—has had to change its model for providing low-cost nutritious meal options for older adults in Central Minnesota during the pandemic. By incorporating frozen foods, developing pop-up sites and partnering with food shelves, including Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf, the Senior Dining program more than tripled its capacity and has been able to prepare and deliver about 91,000 meals per month, up from 26,000 meals a month the previous year.

About Catholic Charities Senior Dining

Catholic Charities Senior Dining sites have been providing seniors with food during the COVID-19 pandemic with modified quarantine practices. Recognizing that seniors who live in rural communities have limited opportunities for food support, Catholic Charities Senior Dining is partnering with several Central Minnesota locations to offer our frozen meals to pick up in a no-contact, drive-through format.

Catholic Charities Senior Dining, a program of Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud, has been providing low-cost meal options for seniors 60 and older in Central Minnesota for more than 55 years. The program currently has senior dining sites located across nine counties throughout the Central Minnesota region, offering meals for takeout, pickup and home delivery. To see a list of Catholic Charities Senior Dining site locations by county, visit the Senior Dining section at ccstcloud.org/program-status.

About Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud

The mission of Catholic Charities is to serve and enhance human dignity for people of all faiths and beliefs. Learn more at ccstcloud.org.

Our Recent News

By Brittany Hoversten July 26, 2025
In 2024, Rebecca and Daniel were facing a difficult reality: their home was in the foreclosure process. With Daniel recently diagnosed with a serious, terminal illness, Rebecca had become the primary financial provider while also caring for her husband and their disabled daughter. What began as a hopeful purchase of a home in 2022 quickly became a financial burden as life’s unexpected challenges took a heavy toll on their family. Overwhelmed and unsure of how to move forward, Rebecca and Daniel turned to Catholic Charities’ Financial and Housing Counseling program for help. After meeting with one of our experienced counselors, they gained a clear understanding of the foreclosure process in Minnesota, including available options and timelines. The first step was to assess their hardship and review their home’s affordability. Despite Rebecca’s best efforts to contact the mortgage company, the stress of managing multiple responsibilities made it difficult to complete the required paperwork. Our counselor worked directly with the mortgage company, helping Rebecca and Daniel fill out the necessary forms. As a result, they were offered a partial claim mortgage assistance program that allowed them to bring their mortgage current and stop the foreclosure. “I don’t have to worry about losing our home while dealing with Daniel’s healthcare needs,” Rebecca shared with relief. Our team also helped the family apply for energy assistance and connected them with additional social security resources, further supporting their financial recovery. Catholic Charities’ Financial and Housing Counseling program, available since 1982, has no income limits and provides expert guidance to anyone looking for assistance. As a licensed U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) provider, we are committed to helping individuals make informed financial decisions and build a secure future. Rebecca’s heartfelt gratitude says it best: “Many thanks to you, Lois, for everything you do for us!! God Bless You!”
By Jenna Pettit July 7, 2025
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of St. Cloud receives $10,000 grant from Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines and Stearns Bank through the Member Impact Fund Grant program supports affordable housing and community development
By Brittany Hoversten July 1, 2025
Summer should be a time of fun and freedom — but for many families in Central Minnesota, it’s a time of deep uncertainty. Without school meal programs and with rising grocery prices, far too many of our neighbors are struggling to put food on the table. That’s why we’re excited to announce that Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf is once again participating in the Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Summer Challenge — and we need your help! What Is the Summer Challenge? Every July, food shelves across Minnesota take part in the Open Your Heart Summer Challenge — a statewide fundraising effort where donations are matched through grant funding. That means every dollar you give to our food shelf during the month of July helps us qualify for a matching grant of up to $4,000. It’s a powerful way to double your impact and ensure we can continue meeting the growing need in our community. The Need Has Never Been Greater Food insecurity remains heartbreakingly common in our state. According to a 2024 statewide hunger study, 1 in 5 households in Minnesota are food insecure. Here at Catholic Charities, we’ve seen that need firsthand. Our food shelf has seen a dramatic rise in the number of shoppers — including many families who have never needed help before. The cost of food is higher than ever, and families are forced to make tough decisions between buying groceries and paying for rent, gas, or medications. What We’re Doing At Catholic Charities Emergency Services Food Shelf, we offer more than just food — we offer choice, dignity, and hope. Our shoppers are able to select the food that fits their family’s dietary, cultural, and health needs. We provide a respectful, welcoming experience and access to nutritious foods, including fresh produce, meat, and dairy. In 2024, we distributed over 2.7 million pounds of food through our food shelf, mobile outreach, and emergency food bag programs — but we can’t do it alone. How You Can Help This July, your support means more than ever. Every donation made to our food shelf during the Summer Challenge will be matched through the Open Your Heart Summer Challenge, stretching your gift further to help feed families in Central Minnesota. ➡️ Donate Today: Click here to give now Thank you for being part of this mission of compassion and community. Want to learn more about our Food Shelf and other food programs? Visit ccstcloud.org/food-services To learn more about the statewide Summer Challenge, visit oyh.org/summer-challenge