Channel One Food Bank

Strengthening Food Access, Building Healthy Communities

At Channel One Regional Food Bank, our mission is to strengthen food access and build healthy communities with a vision that every community in our region is food secure. 

We serve people experiencing food insecurity in 14 counties in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin through a network of over 125 food shelves, pantries, and programs. Initially established to feed seniors in Olmsted County in 1980, Channel One has grown from a small meal program to the largest hunger relief organization in our region.

Channel One is a member of Feeding America, a national network of 200 food banks from across the country providing food assistance. This allows us access to millions of pounds of surplus food and grocery donations that we safely and efficiently collect, store, and distribute to those in need.

Who We Serve

We provide food assistance to working families, seniors, and people in times of crisis because of job loss, medical problems, or personal disaster.

Our network of food shelves, pantries, and programs serve people facing food insecurity in these counties: Faribault, Waseca, Rice, Goodhue, Wabasha, Steele, Dodge, Olmsted, Freeborn, Mower, Fillmore, Winona, Houston, and La Crosse County in Wisconsin.

Many of our neighbors in these communities are food insecure and are uncertain where their next meal will come from.

Programs

• Food Bank: Warehouse and food distribution center which serves 14 counties in southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
• Food Shelf: Food for people facing food insecurity in Olmsted County.
• Kitchen Coalition - Rochester: Public/private partnership that provides prepared meals using donated food to those facing hunger in our community.
• Mobile Pantry: Drive-through food distribution in rural communities and areas with limited access to food and programs.
• Mobile Markets: Food shelf experience at areas of high identified need for people who encounter transportation barriers.
• Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP): Supplemental boxes of USDA nutritious food to improve the health of seniors in need.