Student Basic Needs Resources
Central Lakes College and Minnesota State have partnered with United Way 211 to establish a statewide basic needs resource hub. The basic needs resource hub provides CLC students access to basic needs resources and support available on campus and in the community via phone, text, or chat 24 hours a day and 7 days a week.
United Way 211 provides free and confidential health and human services information. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to connect you with the resources and information you need. If you’re looking for information about services available in your community for you or a loved one, they can help.
Text MNHELP to 898-211(TXT211) or call 211 (toll free at 1-800-543-7709) to speak with one of their highly trained information and referral specialists. Your call is completely confidential, and they have call menus in English, Spanish, and Hmong. Interpreters are also available for any language.
Visit the 211 website to learn more or to explore resources and support that may be available.
To search the 211 database of basic needs resources online, please visit the student basic needs website.
Central Lakes College is committed to holistic mental health, wellness, basic needs and academic supports to foster student success.
Basic needs include, but are not limited to food and housing, clothing, childcare, mental health, financial resources and transportation. At some point in your educational journey, you may face challenges in accessing adequate amounts of food, housing, financial or other resources. This is called basic needs insecurity and college students across our nation experience it each year. To ensure that basic needs are met for all CLC students, a list of on-campus resources and those available in our area communities are listed below.
CLC Food Pantry, open to all CLC students, Monday-Friday 8am-9pm
Brainerd Campus, Student Life Center – Room C226
Staples Campus, Veterans Center – Room A164
Sharing Bread Soup Kitchen, 923 Oak St. Brainerd; Meal times: Monday-Saturday 5pm-6pm and Sunday 12:30-1:30pm.
Operation Sandwich provides meal supplies during school breaks of 4 or more days and throughout the summer. https://www.bridgesofhopemn.org/operation-sandwich
Salvation Army Food Pantry, 208 S 5th St. Brainerd; Hours Tuesday 9am-12pm and 1- 3:30pm. Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday 1-3:30pm.
Ruby’s Pantry, pop-up locations across Minnesota & Wisconsin. No residency or income requirements; for $22 you will receive an abundance of groceries. https://www.rubyspantry.org
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). Application also determines eligibility for other financial assistance programs. https://mn.gov/dhs/people-we-serve/adults/economic-assistance/food-nutrition/programs-and-services/supplemental-nutrition-assistance-program.jsp
WeAre Clinic, 615 Oak St Brainerd, clinic hours Monday, Tuesday and Thursday 1pm-6pm. Appointments may be scheduled through the website.
https://www.wearebrainerd.org
MNSure – where you choose health coverage.
https://www.mnsure.org
Brainerd Warming Shelter, 1926 S 7th St., Brainerd. The shelter is open to anyone aged 18-plus. Walk-ins are accepted from 8-11pm and guests may stay at the shelter from 8pm-8am.
Rent Help MN, apply for financial assistance and get up-to-date information on rental related topics.
https://www.renthelpmn.org
Crow Wing County Community Services, 204 Laurel St. Brainerd, call at 218-824-1140, or walk in to meet with a housing resource specialist.
Todd County Health and Human Services, in Staples: 200 1st St NE Ste 1 or call 218-894-6300; In Long Prairie: 212 2nd Ave S. or call 320-732-4500.
Wadena County Human Services, 124 1st Street SE Wadena or call 218-631-7605
Crow Wing County Transit, visit the website for schedule and fare information.
http://www.ci.brainerd.mn.us/611/BrainerdBaxter-Service
Friendly Rider, (Wadena & Todd Counties) visit the website for schedule and fare information.
https://friendlyrider.com
Jefferson Lines Bus Service
https://www.jeffersonlines.com/plan-your-trip/book-now/
Amtrak Staples Depot
https://www.amtrak.com/stations/spl
Grab-A-Cab 218-270-2992
Brainerd Area Taxi 218-828-1111
Elite Taxi 320-240-2999
Child Care Assistance helps families pay for day child care so that parents can pursue employment or education.
https://mnbenefits.mn.gov
Postsecondary Child Care Grant Application, contact Rebecca.davis@clcmn.edu or 218-855-8020.
ParentAware will help you locate early childhood education programs in your area.
https://www.parentaware.org/#/
Annie’s Child Care and Learning Center at the CLC Brainerd campus, contact Nicole Hinze or Joann Ostrowski at 218-829-9228.
Magic Forest Childcare Center & Preschool, 1411 8th St NE, Staples or call 218-895-5330.
CLC Random Acts of Kindness
https://wwwdev.clcmn.edu/scholarships/emergency-assistance/
Food Pantry application for funding
https://wwwdev.clcmn.edu/clc-food-pantry/
American Rescue Plan Emergency Funding
https://wwwdev.clcmn.edu/cares-act/
Bridge to Benefits will help you determine if you are eligible public assistance programs such as SNAP, MFIP and Medical Assistance.
http://www.bridgetobenefits.org/Home2
Findhelp.org connects you to local resources to assist with a variety of needs.
https://www.findhelp.org
Lutheran Social Services (LSS), 716 E ST NE, Brainerd, 218-828-7379
LSS provides a number of services including, housing/rental assistance, energy assistance and financial counseling.
Salvation Army, 208 S 5th St, Brainerd, 218-829-1120
Salvation Army provides rent, mortgage, and utility assistance, transportation assistance, and household goods and clothing.
Bridges of Hope, 218-825-7682. Connect with a resource specialist to assist with locating and accessing community resources.
https://www.bridgesofhopemn.org
TCC Action Partnership offers a number of support and financial programs.
https://www.tccaction.com
Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe Scholarship
https://millelacsband.com/government/resources1/scholarship
Minneapolis American Indian Center Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act Program provides career planning services, employment training and employment support to eligible adults.
http://www.maicnet.org/project/workforce-innovation-opportunity-act/
Free WiFi Brainerd campus in the north parking lot and Staples in the northwest parking lot. Network name CTCWIFI.
Affordable Connectivity Program helps low-income households pay for broadband service and internet connected devices.
https://acpbenefit.org
Mental health information and resources.
https://wwwdev.clcmn.edu/mental-health/
Legal Aid Service, Brainerd office 218-829-1701. Free legal resources and services to qualifying individuals. Visit www.lasnem.org for additional information on services and legal resources.
Public Defenders Office, 416 S 6th St, Brainerd call 218-828-6134. Free legal resources and services to qualifying individuals.
https://www.pubdef.state.mn.us
Law Help MN, online legal resources.
https://www.lawhelpmn.org
