In partnership with volunteers, donors, nonprofits, and corporate partners, this initiative will ensure that more families experiencing food insecurity have access to foods that are familiar to them and their cultures.

Food insecurity affects thousands in our region, with 1 in 6 children and over 5,480 Itasca County residents uncertain of their next meal. As food prices remain high, food shelf visits in Minnesota surged to 9 million in 2024, a 1.4 million increase from the previous year, while overall food prices have risen by 25% since before the pandemic.

While food shelves serve as a critical safety net, many lack the spices, sauces, and staple ingredients that families rely on to prepare traditional meals.

To address this need, United Way developed pantry packs containing a variety of in-demand items—such as beans, rice noodles, sauces, spices, and locally sourced items like wild rice and maple syrup—that, when supplemented with fresh produce, can create nutritious and culturally familiar meals.

As the initiative grows, United Way will continue to listen to its partners and create packs that reflect current needs and requests. The program currently distributes three types of culturally relevant and healthy food options:

• Anishinaabe: Wild rice, maple syrup, cranberries, and corn
• Hispanic: Rice, dried legumes, jalapeños, and garlic powder
• Southeast Asian: Bamboo shoots, rice noodles, coconut milk, and chili garlic sauce

In 2024 alone, volunteers distributed nearly 600 pounds of culturally relevant food, helping to address food insecurity and making culturally familiar meals accessible to everyone.

Through a partnership with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe, each Anishinaabe pack will include a package of locally harvested wild rice, or manoomin, meaning “good berry”—a food of great historical, spiritual, and cultural importance for Ojibwe people.

Additionally, grants from Compeer Financial and the Grand Rapids Area Community Foundation are helping United Way expand the initiative to include more locally sourced items, like maple syrup, while also supporting local economies and food systems.

“Access to culturally familiar foods is more than nourishment—it’s a connection to heritage and home,” said Kimberly Brink Smith, executive director of United Way. “By ensuring families have access to the ingredients that matter to them, we foster a more inclusive and welcoming community.”

Community members can support Flavors of Our Community by donating, volunteering, or assembling food packs for distribution. To learn more and sign up, visit uwlakes.org/flavors.

Donations can be dropped off at the following locations: Itasca County Family YMCA, Klockow Brewing Company, Members Credit Union, Park State Bank, Rapids Brewing Co., Super One Foods, United Way of 1000 Lakes, and Zion Lutheran Church.