Help

If You Are in Immediate Crisis:

If this is a life-threatening emergency, call 911.

If you are in a crisis of emotional distress, call 988.

All people are children of God.

You are loved.

Be kind to yourself.

General Help and Assistance

Richfield United Methodist Church does not offer immediate direct financial assistance. The church partners with vetted and evaluated local organizations and within the worldwide UMC denomination to share compassion and justice outreach. This approach gives the church opportunities to practice priority thinking, act with integrity, and maintain missional alignment with causes. 

Everyone needs help at some point in our lives. No matter what challenge you face, there is someone you can call to get the help you need. May this list of resources be a potential launching point for you to take the next step.

Disclaimer: No endorsement or approval by Richfield UMC is stated or implied for any of the products, services, or opinions of the organizations, entities, or individuals. Richfield UMC bears no responsibility for these external resources, including accuracy or legality. Contact the external entities with any questions about their content.

If you need immediate assistance, our longstanding partner VEAP has an extensive community resource database. While the resources listed below are helpful for the immediate area, VEAP has a dedicated staff to update resources for the South Metro area. Their extensive community resources website includes a variety of topics for people seeking immediate and/or direct assistance, including financial assistance. Topics including car repair, car seats, food, housing, clothing, child care, adult education, legal services, prescriptions, utilities, veteran services, and more. 

If you need immediate assistance, use “The Handbook to the Streets” by Agate Housing & Services. These sets of handbooks for the Minneapolis and St. Paul areas list many resources for immediate assistance regarding food, shelter, public assistance, health care, education, employment, services for immigrants, and legal services. Access handbooks online for free. Richfield UMC often has print copies of the Minneapolis edition in its Free Little Library near the bus top at 58th Street W. and Lyndale Avenue S. (while supplies last).
Download a Mini Guide: English | Spanish | Hmong | Somali

If you need immediate assistance, go to MinnesotaHelp.info. This one-stop shop collects resources and assistance from across the state. Popular topics to browse include families, government, people experiencing homelessness, people with disabilities, refugees, seniors, taxonomy search, transportation, unemployment, veterans, waiver services, and resources for youth. This website includes “how to” videos and a chat feature with a live specialist (Monday-Friday, 8:00am-4:30pm).

If you need immediate assistance, use 2-1-1/First Call for Help from the Greater Twin Cities United Way. This is an extensive information and referral line, offers information about food, housing, employment, childcare, transportation, health services, senior services, and more. It is free, confidential, and available 24/7. Multilingual access are available in  100+ languages, including Spanish, Hmong, Somali, and Russian.

Community Help and Resources:

Food: Community Meals

Everyone in the community is invited to enjoy a good meal with good company. Many circumstances (public health, weather, holidays, etc.) can impact scheduling. Please call ahead to confirm the information on these meals.
Loaves and Fishes MN Network | Find a meal anywhere in the Twin Cities metro, including these in our area:
Monday-Friday, 5:00pm-6:00pm | Christ the King Lutheran Church | 8600 Fremont Ave. S., Bloomington, MN 55420
Monday-Friday, 5:00pm-6:00pm | Hope Presbyterian Church | 7132 Portland Ave. S., Richfield, MN 55423
Wednesday, 5:00pm-6:00pm | Nokomis Heights Lutheran Church | 5300 10th Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55417
Thursday, 4:00pm-5:30pm | Mount Olivet Lutheran Church | 5025 Knox Ave. S., Minneapolis, MN 55419
Saturday and Sunday, 5:30pm-6:30pm | Woodlake Lutheran Church | 2120 W. 76th St., Richfield, MN 55423

Food: Delivered Meals

Several local services can deliver meals to your home for many qualifying reasons. Many circumstances (public health, weather, holidays, etc.) can impact scheduling. Please call ahead to confirm the information on these meals.
Meals on Wheels | Operates in many locations: Bloomington/Eden PrairieTRUST in South Minneapolis/Richfield
Open Arms of Minnesota | Delivered meals for people diagnosed with chronic or progressive illness. 612.872.1152

Food: Food Shelves and Health/Household Items

Call for hours, eligibility requirements, counties served and the identification you will need to bring with you.
Joyce Uptown Food Shelf | Client Choice shopping by appointment: 612.825.4431 
Minnehaha Food Shelf | From our friends at Minnehaha UMC, Tuesdays, 10:00am-3:00pm, 612.721.6231
VEAP Food Shelf | Food pantry with no income guidelines, Monday-Friday, 9:00am-4:30pm, 952.888.9616

Housing and Shelter

Metro Housing & Shelter Hotline | Get updated information about shelter and transitional housing programs in your county. Call 24/7 at 888.234.1329

Long-Term Stability and Skill-Building

The Dignity Center | From our friends at Hennepin Avenue UMC, The Dignity Center walks alongside people working to achieve and maintain stability in their lives. Participants engage with advocates by appointment, set goals, take action, and report on progress. Stability skills such as problem solving, decision making, budgeting, and general organization can make all the difference in our lives on a road to improved housing, a better financial situation, completed education and training, employment, and community support.

Infant and Child Crisis Response

Minneapolis Crisis Nursery | Helpline, crisis counseling, and overnight residential care | 763.591.0100

Sexual Violence

Sexual Violence Center | A rape crisis center supporting all victims of sexual violence ages 12+ in Hennepin County.
24-hour Crisis Line: 612-871-5111 or 952-448-5425.

Domestic Violence

Day One Crisis Hotline | Connect with available domestic violence shelters near you. 866.223.1111

Help with Alcohol

Greater Minneapolis Intergroup Alcoholics Anonymous | AA is here to help anyone who has a drinking problem,
Call 24/7 at 952-922-0880.

Mental Health Services

Hennepin County Mobile Crisis Team (Adults) | 612.596.1223
Hennepin County Mobile Crisis Team (Children and Teens) | 612.348.2233
LifeStance Health (formerly Family Innovations) | 651.407.3631
Associated Clinic of Psychology, Twin Cities | 612.925.6033
Prairie Care | 952.737.4566
Alzheimer’s Association (Dementia/Alzheimer’s 24/7Helpline) | 800.272.3900.