When events like this happen, those that are far away often feel helpless. But there are real, constructive ways to support a community going through fear, grief, and instability – without adding to the noise.
Here are four grounded ways people can help Minneapolis right now:
- Support local food & mutual aid organizations
In moments of unrest or trauma, the most immediate needs are often basic: food, childcare, and emergency support.
Look for:
- Minneapolis mutual aid networks
- Community food shelves
- Neighborhood support funds
These groups move quickly and directly help families who may miss work, avoid public spaces, or feel unsafe moving around the city.
The Food Group – nonprofit focused on food access, community food distribution, and hunger relief in Minnesota (donate/volunteer).
Twin Cities Mutual Aid Project – grassroots mutual aid network providing food, housing, health, legal and social support.
- Fund mental health & trauma support
Events involving violence – especially involving law enforcement – ripple through entire communities, not just those directly involved.
Support organizations that provide:
- free or low-cost counseling
- crisis response
- trauma-informed care
- support for youth and families
Community mental health groups and culturally specific wellness organizations make a huge difference in helping people process fear and grief.
Greater Twin Cities United Way – coordinates emergency response funds and community support including food, housing, crisis resources, and referrals (211 helpline services).
Community Aid Network MN (CANMN) – volunteer-led group redistributing resources and building community support in Minneapolis.Â
- Support legal aid & civil rights groups
After high-profile incidents, many people need help navigating:
- immigration concerns
- legal rights
- housing or employment issues tied to instability
Donating to nonprofit legal aid organizations helps ensure vulnerable residents have access to guidance and protection during uncertain periods.
Immigrant Law Center of Minnesota (ILCM) – provides free immigration legal representation and assistance for low-income immigrants and refugees.Â
Mid-Minnesota Legal Aid – Immigration Law Project – offers legal services for immigration matters in the Twin Cities and surrounding counties.
The Advocates for Human Rights – upper Midwest organization assisting asylum seekers, detained individuals, and people facing systemic human rights challenges.Â
- Keep local small businesses afloat
When tension is high, foot traffic drops. People stay home. That hits restaurants, cafés, and neighborhood shops immediately.
Ways to help from afar:
- Order gift cards from Minneapolis restaurants
- Buy products online from local makers
- Tip-heavy if ordering delivery
- Share and promote local businesses on social media
Stability for small businesses = stability for workers.
- Lead with calm, support with care, advocate accurately (extra credit)
When it comes to the gentle calmness and even temperature of online discourse (yeah right) it’s easy to rage post because honestly; it feels good. But one of the most helpful things people outside the city can do is avoid spreading false information. Verify everything you share, if it’s not verifiable; it might not be worth sharing.
Instead:
- share verified info
- uplift local voices
- donate quietly
- check in with people you know in the area
Communities recover faster when outside attention shows support, not spectacle. If you live in an environment where your community is silent on this issue – and you’re bringing the only voice of reason – go for it. But most of us live in the same echo chamber that led us here. Do your friends and followers get it? Then they are hurt just as much by what you post as what you’ve seen already. We’re not saying don’t post – but consider, a lot of what you see is meant to anger you.
Calm, gentle camaraderie can go a long way. Reach out to your friends that seem to need it the most… we help each other by listening more, not adding your voice to the shouting.
The big picture
In moments like this, the people most affected are everyday residents trying to go to work, raise kids, and feel safe in their own neighborhoods.
The most powerful help is often the least dramatic: food, care, legal support, local business stability, and calm solidarity.