Community Connections/Referrals

2-1-1 United Way First Call For Help: Call 651.291.0211 or 2-1-1.

Unite MN/A Better Society: This online platform connects people with community-based resources. The network provides a central point of contact where health care providers, social service organizations, and individuals security access and refer people to needed services. To get help in Carver County, visit: https://www.abettersociety.org/get-help/

Emergency Lines

Crisis Nursery: Supports families 24/7 during this stressful time. If you need someone to talk to, are looking for resources or are in need of care for your children. Call: 612.839.5101 or visit: https://capagency.org/crisis-nursery-of-scott-and-carver-counties/

Domestic Violence 

-DayOne Crisis line: Call: 1.866.223.1111 or visit: https://dayoneservices.org/

-Southern Valley Alliance: Call: 952.873.4214 or visit: https://svamn.org/

Mental Health Crisis Team: 24/7 Mobile and telephone crisis response services in Carver County. Both adult and children’s crisis response services are provided. Call: 952.442.7601 or visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services/mental-health/24-7-crisis-mental-health

Child Care Assistance

Carver County Child Care Assistance: Child Care Assistance helps families with low incomes pay for child care so parents can work, attend school, or look for a job. Call: 952.361.1721 or visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services/income-support/child-care-assistance

Children’s Education

CAP’s Early Head Start and Head Start Programs: Are income-based early education programs available to families who live in Scott, Carver, and Dakota counties. Call: 651.322.3500 (option 2) or visit: https://capagency.org/head-start/

Financial counseling

Lutheran Social Services (LSS): LSS provides free budget counseling, debt management plans and financial education. Give them a call: 888.577.2227 

Free Financial Counseling for Carver County: Supports people in meeting their financial goals and helps them understand their finances. Call Samatha Roth at: 952.492.5383

General Community Assistance

Beyond New Beginnings: Supports young, single moms between the ages of 18 and 26. Provides a supportive community and low income housing as they complete their high school diploma, attend post-secondary education or pursue full time employment. Visit: Homepage – Beyond New Beginnings

Love, Inc.: The network churches of Love INC responds to individual’s unmet needs by compassionately gifting people with daily essentials. To view a list of available resources, visit: https://loveinccc.org/ministries. To receive assistance, call: 952.488.2508 or email info@loveinccc.org

The RAK: Stores and Warehouses, provides clothing, shoes, furniture, books, toys, and household decor. They give certificates to people in need. Thrift & Consignment Store, located in Chaska. Call: 612.594.0047 or visit: http://www.rakthrift.com/home.html

Health Care

Children’s Dental Services: Specializes in children’s dental care and provides dental services to children from infancy to age 26, pregnant women, and people of all ages, regardless of family income. Call: 612.7461530 or 1.866.543.6009 or visit: https://childrensdentalservices.org/

Low-cost Immunizations for Children and Adults: Carver County Public Health offers various immunizations for adults and children. The vaccines are supplied by federal and state programs and are offered at no cost to persons who are eligible. Visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services/public-health/health-and-wellness/disease-prevention/immunization-services

Medical Assistance (MA): Is Minnesota’s Medicaid program for people with low income. Visit: https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/seniors/health-care/health-care-programs/programs-and-services/medical-assistance.jsp

myHealth for Teens & Young Adults (myHealth): Offers subsidized, confidential adolescent-focused integrative health care. Call: 952.474.3251 or visit: https://myhealthmn.org

Open Door Health Center: A non-profit community Health Center, providing quality affordable health care to everyone! Most private insurance plans are accepted, as is MinnesotaCare and Medical Assistance (MA). They also have a sliding fee discount system that helps individuals and families with no insurance and those with high deductible insurance pay based on income and household size. Call: 507.388.2120 for dental call: 952.492.6342 or visit: https://odhc.org/

Portico Healthnet: Helps people and families enroll into healthcare coverage, understand how to use the healthcare system, and access community resources. Portico’s multi-lingual, culturally competent staff are experts at helping you navigate the complicated process of finding and understanding healthcare coverage. Call: 651.489.2273 or visit: https://porticohealthnet.org/

River Valley Health Services: Serves uninsured and under-insured individuals in Scott and Carver counties by connecting them to local resources, and free or low-cost healthcare resources. All provided services are free of charge. Call: 952.452.0777 or visit: https://rivervalleyhealthservices.org/

Housing

CAP Agency Housing Services: For Scott & Carver Counties. Call: 952.496.2125 Press option 3 for housing or visit: https://capagency.org/safe-stable-housing/

Carver County Emergency Assistance: Emergency Assistance is help for qualifying families that are faced with an unexpected emergency expense. Call: 952.361.1600 or 888.966.6379 or visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services/income-support/financial-assistance/emergency-programs

Carver County Emergency General Assistance: Is emergency help for adults that can provide short-term financial support for qualifying people that are facing an unexpected emergency expense. Call: 612.594.0047 or visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services/income-support/financial-assistance/emergency-programs

Deposit Assistance: If you are homeless but found a housing option and are in need of deposit or rental assistance, you may apply for the FHPAP Program (Family Homeless Prevention and Assistance) or Emergency Assistance. To apply for FHPAP, call United Way by dialing 2-1-1.  Enter your language preference, zip code, and then select the option that lists Carver County or wait on the line to be connected. This line is available 24/7. Or, call Carver County Financial Assistance at 962-361-1600

Housing Link: Affordable housing information and resources. Call: 612.522.2500 or visit: https://www.housinglink.org/

Housing Stabilization Services: is a new program authorized by the Department of Human Services that pays for Housing Case Management Services by billing Medical Assistance.  Eligible participants are age 18 and older, have a disabling condition or are over 65 years old, have medical assistance, and are experiencing housing instability. In Carver County, this service is being provided by the following agencies:

Carver County Housing Unit – 952.442.4496

Dexterity International – 612.695.8846

Fitzgerald Home Health Care – 612.598.3527

Housing Unit Helpline: Call 952.442.4496 to speak with a member of the Carver County Housing Unit for help connecting to housing resources in the community.

Internet Services

Comcast: Affordable high-speed internet at home. Call 1-844-963-0231 or Visit: Internet Essentials – Affordable Internet from Xfinity

Latino Support

Latino Voices: Supports the immigrants/Latino community. Call: 952.594.5220 or visit: https://www.latinovoicesmn.org

Mi CASA: Promotes and enhances healthy lifestyles by raising awareness about mental health, encouraging healthy eating habits, and promoting an active lifestyle in our communities. Call: 952.245.0697 or visit: http://micasamn.org/

Seniors Support

Chore: The Chore Program for Seniors assists residents of Scott, Carver and Dakota Counties “age in place,” with a variety of in-home services and home to needed destination services. Call: 612.999.3939 or visit: https://capagency.org/community-outreach/chore-2/

Wheels on Meals for Seniors: Senior Meals on Wheels is dedicated to ensuring that eligible individuals who are aged 60 and older have access to healthy meals. The program is designed to cater to seniors living in Scott, Carver, and Dakota counties. Call: 952.402.9855 or visit: https://capagency.org/food-nutrition/senior-nutrition-2/ 

Senior Linkage line

MN Senior Services and Resources | Senior LinkAge Line / Minnesota.gov

800.333.2433

Transportation

Metro Mobility: For those on medical assistance, need to be certified. An application is needed to use this service. Call: 651.602.1100 or 1.866.467.1724 Press option 8 for Spanish. or visit: https://metrocouncil.org/Transportation/Services/Metro-Mobility-Home.aspx

SmartLink Transit: Affordable transportation, around $3.50-$4.50 each way. Also for those on medical assistance. Call: 952.496.8341 

Southwest Prime: Call: 952.797.7463 or visit: https://swtransit.org/sw-prime/

SW Transit: Providing public transit service for Chanhassen, Chaska, and Eden Prairie. Express bus service to Minneapolis, and the University of Minnesota. Call: 952.949.2BUS(2287) or visit: https://swtransit.org/

WeCAB: Provides rides when public transportation is not available or too complicated. Non-profit, volunteer based transportation. Call: 1.844.743.3932 Press option #2 for Carver County or visit: https://wecab.org/riders/

Utilities Assistance

CAP Agency’s Energy Assistance Program (EAP): Helps eligible households with energy bill payment assistance, home energy crisis intervention, outreach, energy advocacy, information about utility consumer rights and referrals. The program runs from September to May and residents must apply each year. Call: 651.322.3500 option 1 or visit: https://capagency.org/housing-services/energy-assistance/

Energy Assistance Program Hotline: Call: 1.800.657.3710

ERR (Energy-Related Repair): A program that helps renters and homeowners supplement their heating, electric and water costs. Homeowners may be eligible for Energy-Related Repair for their furnace. Call: 612.999.3939 or contact eap-info@capagency.org for more information.

Heat Share: Help with energy bills. Applicants must first be denied both CAP Agency’s Energy Assistance Program and County Emergency Assistance or Emergency General Assistance. Call: 952.767.3901

Minnesota Energy Assistance Program: Helps pay energy bills for eligible Minnesotans. The program is free and provides an average benefit of $500, plus additional support to respond to emergencies. Call: 651.322.3485 or visit: https://mn.gov/commerce/energy/consumer-assistance/energy-assistance-program/

Veterinary services

Mission Animal Hospital: Mission provides high-quality veterinary services to those in our community who encounter transportation and financial barriers to care. Call: 952.9381237 or visit: https://www.missionah.org/

Workforce Support

CareerForce: Support and resources for job seekers. Call: 952.361.1711 or visit: https://www.carvercountymn.gov/departments/health-human-services/income-support/careerforce-in-chaska

Find Food Carver County

There are many resources for people to get access to healthy foods in Carver County, even if you have financial limitations. For a complete list of organizations that offer food assistance, go to www.findfoodcarvercounty.org and/or check out the resources linked below.

Free community meals

Many local congregations provide free community meals on a weekly or monthly basis. No registration required. All are welcome.

St. John’s Lutheran Church and School
300 E 4th Street | Chaska, MN 55318
Every Monday from 5:15 to 6:15 p.m.

Chaska Moravian Church
115 E 4th Street | Chaska, MN 55318
Every 2nd Saturday from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

Delivered Meals

Humanity Alliance: A weekend meal delivery program. Program currently has a waiting list. To get on the waiting list, fill out a form here: https://www.humanityalliance.org/order-weekend-meals#!form/MealOrderForm2

Meals on Wheels: CAP Agency Senior Nutrition ensures that eligible individuals age 60+ have access to healthy meals. Meals delivered directly to seniors in their homes. Any adult over the age of 60 is eligible for senior nutrition, regardless of income. A donation of $5 per meal is suggested, but not required. No senior is denied meal service. Call: 952.402.9855 to sign up.

Low Cost Groceries

Ruby’s Pantry: Located at Grace Church | 9301 Eden Prairie Road, Eden Prairie, Minnesota 55347 on the first Thursday of each month. Registration begins at 5:00 PM. Food bundles available 5:00-6:30 pm

Food Distributions

The Chaska Free Food Distribution is typically held the third Thursday of the month at 2100 Stoughton Ave, Chaska from 11:30-12:30 p.m. This event is open to anyone, is drive-thru and contact-free, and people can pick up for multiple households. The food offered includes a variety of dairy products, meat, produce, bread, and dry goods. No pre-registration is needed.

Government Programs 

Women, Infants and Children (WIC): WIC is a food and nutrition for pregnant and breastfeeding women, infants and children up to five years old. Call 612.348.6100

County Food Support (SNAP): The SNAP (food support) program is a county-run, federal program that helps low-income Minnesotans get the food they need for sound nutrition and well-balanced meals. The program issues electronic SNAP benefits that can help stretch your food budget. It is not intended to meet all of your food budget needs. The amount of SNAP benefits your household can get is based on the income, expenses and the number of people in your household. For more information: https://edocs.dhs.state.mn.us/lfserver/Public/DHS-2814-ENG

Carver County Food Shelves

Food shelves provide food and basic needs to individuals and families living on little. Please call the food shelf to check eligibility requirements and hours.

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf – Chaska
1600 Bavaria Road, Chaska
952.556.0244

Bountiful Basket Food Shelf – Cologne
102 Lake Street W, Cologne
952.988.2802

Gather and Grow Food Shelf and Resource Center – Watertown
309 Lewis Avenue South, Watertown
952.955.1980

Gather and Grow Food Shelf and Resource Center – Waconia
11 South Elm Street, Waconia
952.448.3878

ICA Food Shelf
11588 K-Tel Drive, Minnetonka
952.938.0729

Mi Casita Pantry

1053 Jefferson Street South, Shakopee  
952.245.0697

People Reaching Out to People (PROP)
14700 Martin Drive, Eden Prairie
952.937.9120

Southwest Carver County Food Shelf
10 First Avenue NE, Norwood Young America
952.467.1870

This list of resources is a work in progress. If you know of a beneficial resource that is not listed, please contact janet@bountifulbasketfoodshelf.org. Thank you for your support!