Additional Community Resources for Assistance

Local families and individuals looking for help with rent or utility bills can apply for CAER’s Emergency Financial Assistance. Based on need, this limited program is available once every 18 months for those who qualify. Applications are required and considered on a case-by-case basis for those living in Elk River, Otsego, Zimmerman, Big Lake, and Becker.

Step 1: Apply for Emergency Assistance with the county you live in

Step 2: Gather necessary documents to submit with CAER Financial Assistance Application.

Step 3: Complete a Financial Assistance Application with CAER by calling 763.441.1020 or scheduling a shopping appointment.

Step 4: CAER Food Shelf staff will review your application and be in contact regarding your application status.

CAER has a list of local resources that offer discounted groceries and other food programs to help ensure no one in our community goes hungry:

• Fare For All. This nonprofit discount grocery program is open to everyone.
• Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) Program. Serving Sherburne County and Wright County, this supplemental food program provides nutrition assessment and education, healthcare referrals, and more to new and expectant mothers, babies, and children. 
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP helps individuals and families get the food they need using an EBT card to buy groceries at most stores.
• Market Bucks. Get more fresh, healthy food with Market Bucks, which triple your SNAP/EBT at participating farmers markets.
• Summer EBT. This food support program provides families with funds to buy food for eligible school-age children during the summer months.

• Foreclose Prevention—Minnesota Homeownership Center works for free with homeowners and mortgage lenders to develop payment solutions and avoid foreclosure.
• Family Assets for Independence in Minnesota (FAIM) through Tri-CAP is a matched savings program that helps low-wage earners in Benton, Sherburne, and Stearns counties build assets and achieve their financial goals.
• Tri-CAP Energy Assistance Program helps eligible households in Benton, Stearns, Sherburne, and Morrison counties with home energy costs.
• WCCA Energy Assistance Program provides utility bill support to income-eligible households in Wright County.
• Mid Minnesota Legal Aid offers no-cost civil legal assistance to low-income earners and anyone 60 or older living with a disability.

There are local organizations that offer low-cost or no-cost transportation in and around the community.

• Tri-CAP Transportation offers bus service to the public, with no age or income requirements.
• Faith in Action provides seniors with transportation to medical appointments, grocery stores, and more.
• Loving Hands is a woman-owned, non-emergency medical transportation service.

Yes. Many local communities have food shelf programs to help alleviate hunger.

• Big Lake Community Food Shelf, serving the Big Lake community.
• Hanover Area Food Shelf serves Albertville, St. Michael, Hanover, and parts of Loretto and Corcoran.
• Monticello Help Center serves the Monticello community.
• Passing the Bread offers monthly food distribution in Zimmerman and Princeton.
• Wright County Community Action serves all Wright County residents.
• ACBC Food Shelf serves Anoka, Andover, Champlin, Coon Rapids, Nowthen, and Ramsey.
• CROSS Services serves Rogers, Dayton, Corcoran, Hassan, Maple Grove, and Champlin.

We understand the emotional connection to pets. They are, after all, part of the family. Pet care can be expensive, which is why MN SNAP (Spay Neuter Assistance Program) offers low-cost spay and neuter surgeries as well as vaccinations for dogs and cats through its mobile clinic.