2026 STOMP DETAILS

STOMP services will begin on May 26th! Meals will be handed out Monday through Friday by volunteers from May 26th to September 4th, with no services on July 3rd. Free meals are handed out by FOCP staff or volunteers to youth under 18 at select sites throughout the Greater Mankato Area

Dates:
Tuesday, May 26th - Friday, September 4th (closed Friday July 3)

Sites & Times: Sites and times are subject to change as more details are solidified. 
Lime Valley Mobile Home Court - 101 Lime Valley Street - 11:00 AM - 11:15 AM
Eagle Lake American Legion - 100 N. 3rd St. - 11:30 AM - 11:50 AM
Southhaven Mobile Home Court - 1123 Southhaven Dr. - 12:05 PM - 12:20 PM 
Messiah Lutheran Church - 1706 Lee Blvd. North Mankato - 12:00 PM - 12:25 PM 

"My son is *always* hungry, no matter how much food we have available (thank you, pre-teen growth spurt). The food provided by your program gives him something quick he can eat or make by himself."

-real testimonial from a local parent

THE PROBLEM

For families and children living in food deserts, having safe access to resources (ie grocery stores, schools, gas stations, etc) is extremely difficult, if not impossible. In many cases, these communities have highways or other infrastructure (also including distance) creating unsafe geographic barriers between residents of the community and available grocery stores. According to Wilder Research, a food desert refers to an urban area in which a substantial portion of the residents are low-income and live more than one mile from a supermarket or grocery store (2014).

While this might seem like a big-city problem, food deserts occur within our own community. Without consistent, reliable transportation to school (as would be available during the school year), the summer months can be especially difficult for students living in food deserts. ​

THE SOLUTION

In 2020, STOMP was implemented to fill the weekday meal gaps that resulted from the COVID-19 crisis.

Today, with the assistance of community partners, FOCP provides weekday meals via mobile outreach sites during the summer months.

​Sites are selected based on proximity to schools, grocery stores and other food resources, specifically those locations which have geographic barriers to each (i.e. a food desert).

VOLUNTEER

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