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Current status: Neighborhood House, Wellstone Center, Beaningful

Beginning March 16, Neighborhood House suspended some of its programming in order to help stop the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19). Because the situation continues to evolve, so will the status of our various programs. Below you will find the most up-to-date status of our programs, the Wellstone Center, and more.

Neighborhood House programs:

  • Literacy and Adult Education will be held online until at least May 4. Find online classes here. 
  • In-person childcare and preschool classes are canceled. Teachers are communicating with parents and sharing activities for students to do at home.
  • All Family Centers are closed.  If it is an emergency please call the Wellstone Center at 651-789-2500 and someone will get back to you.
  • Beaningful is closed until it is determined safe for staff and customers to reopen.

The Wellstone Center:

  • The Wellstone Center is open from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
  • All individuals entering the Wellstone Center must wear a mask.
  • Participants must enter through the Winifred Street Entrance (C Door).
  • The Wellstone Center ramp is currently closed.
  • The Immigrant Law Centers will not be onsite at least until the end of March.
  • Walk-in Counseling hours are canceled. See their website for open locations and hours.
  • Saint Paul Parks and Recreation in the Wellstone Center is closed.

If you need help with food:

The Wellstone Center Food Market will remain open during the hours 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. and 2 to 4 p.m.

  • Starting Tuesday, March 31, the food market will be providing curbside pre-packaged emergency bags. We accept walk-up and drive-up pick-up. Please call 651-789-2534  when you arrive and we will bring out your groceries.

The Francis Basket Food Market will be open Monday and Friday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and Tuesday from 9 to 11:30 a.m. and 1 to 3:30 p.m.

  • Starting Monday, March 23, the food market will be providing pre-packaged emergency bags. Please ring the bell or knock on the door when you arrive. A staff or volunteer will bring you your groceries.

Can’t visit the food market in person and need your groceries delivered?

  • If you are in need of delivery, please call 651-789-2534 and let the operator know you would like to order emergency bags for delivery. We will be taking calls for delivery between 9 a.m.–12 p.m. and 1–4 p.m. All calls before 10 a.m. will guarantee next-day delivery. All calls after 10 a.m. will guarantee delivery in two days.
  • Orders placed on Thursday will be delivered the following Monday and orders placed on Friday will be delivered the following Tuesday.

Fresh Produce Distribution, Late Wednesdays, Bonus Thursdays, and Produce Tuesdays are canceled.

If you need help with housing:

  • As of March 16, we will continue to provide Crisis Days at the Wellstone Center with staggered appointment times to limit the number of people in the area at a given time.
  • If you are in a housing crisis, please call us at 651-789-2500 with your name and phone number and a staff member will return your call.

If you are a volunteer:

  • We encourage our volunteers to be safe and make decisions regarding participation based on what is best for themselves.
  • If you are able and willing, our food support program needs volunteers. Please see our website for volunteer shifts.

If you want to support Neighborhood House:

  • We are in the middle of March Food Drive, our biggest food fundraising effort of the year. With the closure of workplaces, places of worship, and schools, our greatest food drive partners are not able to participate as they have in the past. With March being a lighter month for donations and the impact of coronavirus (COVID-19), we are seeing an increased demand in our food market. If you are able, please consider making a gift today to ensure that we can meet the need of our community.

All of us at Neighborhood House are so very grateful for each of you. Your participation in our programs, your contributions, and your collaboration make life just a bit brighter for others. We do not take that for granted and hope that in the very near future, we will be able to see this as another time that we worked together to make lives better.

Please fill out and submit the form below to contact us.

Carrie Sowada | Child Development Specialist

Carrie comes to Neighborhood House as a recent graduate of the U of M’s Family Social Science program, where they graduated with distinction. They have more than five years of experience working with and mentoring children in St. Cloud area youth programs, as well as customer service and restaurant experience. Additionally, Carrie has experience in community building, advocacy, and working with children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder. In their spare time, Carrie enjoys crocheting. It’s their favorite hobby. 

Valerie Dorschner | Early Childhood Instructor

Valerie has worked at Neighborhood House since 2004.

Valerie leads the Skills for School preschool program and is responsible for the curriculum. She has over 20 years of experience in early childhood working with parents and children, and has training and experience working with neurodiverse and dual language students.

  • Valerie is a licensed teacher with a bachelor’s degree in Education from the University of St. Thomas.
  • She holds licenses in elementary education and in early childhood education, and has several years of experience
    teaching elementary school.

Valerie enjoys her free time with her five children and one grandchild.

Victoria Campoverde

Victoria Campoverde is the program manager of Neighborhood House’s Latino Leadership Program. She is originally from Peru and was a licensed high school teacher in her home country.

Her extensive experience within the education sector exemplifies her commitment to education and families.

  • Currently, she serves as the Cultural Liaison between Columbia Heights School District and Anoka-Hennepin School District.
  • In 2008 Victoria began working with The Amherst H. Wilder Foundation’s Latino Leadership Program on adapting their curriculum for the Latinx community. Since then, she has continued working in the Latino Leadership Program after its 2020 transition to Neighborhood House.
  • Coauthor of Education: Our Best Legacy (EOBL), a school success program designed for parents or caregivers with one or more children in middle school. EOBL is part of the Partnering for School Success project (PSS) with the University of Minnesota’s Extension program.
  • Lead teacher and Program Director at Joyce Preschool.
  • A 25 on the Rise, Latino Leader recipient from the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce in 2006.
  • Facilitator with different Latino parent programs in the Twin Cities.
  • President of Kuyayki Peru MN Cultural Association.

For Victoria it is important to value ones culture and cultivate ones heritage. She believes in the importance of empowering the community through her work with Neighborhood House and the Latino Leadership Program. During her free time Victoria enjoys dancing.

Winter / Spring Fresh Produce Distributions Events*

From November–May, all are welcome to come pick up a variety of free fruits and vegetables for family and friends. Distributions take place at Metro State University in St. Paul.

This event is held indoors. Masks are encouraged but not required.

During each event, we distribute approximately 3,000 pounds of food to approximately 75-100 families on average.

No documentation or identification is required to participate.

For additional questions about the Food Markets, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Event guideline and details: Our fresh produce events are open to everyone!

  • Requirements: Nothing! You do not need identification to receive food.
  • Recommendations: You may want to bring your own bags and a cart if you have one. On average, visitors will leave with approximately 40 pounds of fresh produce per event. 
  • Registration: First-time visitors are required to register on site. The registration process will take 5-10 minutes to complete.
  • Parking: You can park in the Metro State ramp parking for $5. Otherwise, street parking is available along 7th St. and Bates Avenue.

Wellstone Center | 179 Robie Street East, St. Paul, MN  55107

 

Location

Metropolitan State University

(Student Center Room)
101 690 E 7th St
St. Paul, MN 55106

TIME – 2:30–4 P.M.

DATES – December 17, 2025 | January 14, 2026 | February 11, 2026 | March 11, 2026 | April 8, 2026 | May 13, 2026

 

* Weather permitting – If there are thunderstorms or excessive heat warnings, we may cancel the event and / or events. For more information and event cancellation updates, please call (651) 789-3630.

Still have questions? Kindly email Nicki Thao, Food Market Site Coordinator.

Summer / Fall distributions* (Summer 2025)

From July to October, all are welcome to come pick up a variety of free fruits and vegetables for family and friends at our St. Paul locations. 

The distributions are held outdoors and are farmer’s market style. No documentation or identification is required to participate.

For additional questions about Food Support, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.

Event guideline and details: Our fresh produce events are open to everyone!

  • Requirements: Nothing! You do not need identification to receive food.
  • Recommendations: You may want to bring your own bags and a cart if you have one. On average, visitors will leave with approximately 40 pounds of fresh produce per event. 
  • Registration: First-time visitors are required to register on site. The registration process will take 5-10 minutes to complete.
  • Parking: You may park on the street at most of our locations. 
 

Locations

The Wellstone Center*

179 Robie Street
St. Paul, MN 55107

Dates

Every 2nd and 4th Wednesday from July to October
Hours: 12 p.m.–2 p.m.

  • 7/10
  • 7/24
  • 8/14
  • 8/28
  • 9/11
  • 9/25
  • 10/9
  • 10/23

Summit Brewing Parking Lot

902 Montreal Circle
St. Paul, MN 55102

Dates

Every 1st and 3rd Thursday from July to October
Hours: 12 p.m.–2 p.m.

  • 7/3
  • 7/17
  • 8/7
  • 8/21
  • 9/4
  • 9/18
  • 10/2
  • 10/16

Flyers

2025 flyer – English

* Weather permitting. If there are thunderstorms or excessive heat warnings, we may cancel the event and / or events. For more information and event cancellation updates, please call (651) 789-3630.

Still have questions? Please email Nikki Thao, Food Market Coordinator.

Food Market Location

Francis Basket

1293 East Maynard Drive #410
St Paul, MN 55116
Phone: (651) 699-0986

Building Hours

Monday

9AM – 11:30AM

Tuesday & WEDNESDAYS

9AM – 11:30AM
1PM – 4PM

Directions

Highland / Sibley Manor

Food Market Location

The Wellstone Center

179 Robie Street
St. Paul, MN 55107
Phone: (651) 789-2500
Food Market Info: (651) 789-3630

Directions

Appointment Required

Make Appointment online: Click Here

Appointment Scheduling Hours

Monday – Friday

9:30AM–4PM

Operating Hours

Monday

TUESDAY–FRIDAY

SATURDAY

  • 1–4PM 
  • 9:30–11:30AM
  • 1–3:30PM

Closed Saturdays until 2026

Wellstone Center Food Market

St. Paul Music Academy

27 Geranium Avenue East
St Paul, MN 55117
Service Connect: (651) 789-3602

Building Hours

Monday – Friday

9AM – 4PM

Directions

St. Paul Music Academy

John A. Johnson Elementary

740 York Avenue
St Paul, MN 55106
Service Connect: (651) 789-3602

Building Hours

Monday – Friday

9AM – 4PM

Directions

John A. Johnson Elementary

Neighborhood House on Montreal

1080 Montreal Ave
St Paul, MN 55116
Service Connect: (651) 789-3602

Building Hours

Monday – Friday

9AM – 4PM

Directions

No appointment necessary

Operating Hours​

MONDAY–WEDNESDAY

  • 9:30–11:30AM
  • 1–4PM
Neighborhood House on Montreal

Dayton's Bluff Elementary

262 Bates Avenue
St. Paul, MN 55106
Service Connect: (651) 789-3602

Building Hours

Monday – Friday

9AM – 4PM

Directions

Dayton's Bluff Elementary

Bruce Vento Elementary

409 Case Avenue East
St Paul, MN 55130
Service Connect: (651) 789-3602

Building Hours

Monday – Friday

9AM – 4PM

Directions

Bruce Vento Elementary

Main Campus

The Wellstone Center

179 Robie Street
St. Paul, MN 55107
Main Phone: (651) 789-2500
Service Connect: (651) 789-3602
Food Market Info: (651) 789-3630

Building Hours

Monday – Friday

8AM – 9PM

Saturday

8AM – 4PM

Sunday

NOON – 5PM

The Wellstone Center

Parking

The Wellstone Center Parking Ramp is located on the west side of the main building. The ramp has three levels with one elevator bank. Take the elevator to the first floor and follow the signs towards the information desk.
Parking is free.

Directions

Note: Building hours may be adjusted due to holidays, emergencies, program changes or weather. Check our website homepage and social media for possible building hour changes.