Free grocery store aims to remove stigma of food aid

A Twin Cities food shelf now has two locations where people in need can 'shop' for free 

View in Browser | Listen Good morning, Rain, thunder, ice, sleet and snow. We've seen it all across Minnesota. Now it's time for some warmup. Partly sunny today with highs in the mid 30s to lower 40s. Find more on Updraft. Free grocery store aims to remove stigma of food aid Unlike most other food shelf operations, Today's Harvest doesn't ask clients questions about who they are and how much they earn. Instead, six days a week it welcomes anyone into what feels like a small grocery store, except everything is free. "It is really designed to imitate the grocery store as much as possible," said Jessica Francis, who runs the Christian Cupboard Emergency Food Shelf, which operates two Today's Harvest free stores in Oakdale. The offerings at both stores change daily and quantities for free shoppers are limited based on inventory. All of the food is donated by area grocery stores. Both are increasingly busy places, given what's going on with inflation. Read more about the food shelf's effort to make food aid more accessible for Minnesotans in need. What else we're watching: Minnesota's high school graduation rates decreased last year, but not as dramatically as expected, an expert says. Just over 83 percent of Minnesota's class of 2021 was able to graduate within four years. a drop of 0.5 percentage points compared to the class of 2020 . Gaps in graduation rates between white students and Black students, Native American students and Hispanic students persisted in 2021, although Black students saw a 1.5 percentage point increase in graduation rates. The band Jarabe Mexicano brings its unique sound to the Twin Cities starting today. The group draws influences from a variety of musical styles as well as from life along the U.S.-Mexico border. Over the next several days the band will perform and educate students about the music they play. ALS researchers and caregivers in Minnesota will get funds from the state. Independent state Sen. David Tomassoni, who was diagnosed with the disease last year, said it was "truly a good day" when Gov. Tim Walz signed his bill to provide $25 million for ALS research and caregiving on Wednesday. – Jiwon Choi, MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today! SPONSOR   Connect With Us MPRnews.org MPRnews on iOS MPRnews on Android Podcasts from MPR News Did someone forward you this email? Subscribe today. Preference Center ❘ Unsubscribe You received this email because you subscribed or it was sent to you by a friend. This email was sent by: Minnesota Public Radio 480 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN, 55101