October Newsletter from Hennepin County Commissioner Kevin Anderson

Hennepin County, Minnesota sent this bulletin at 10/24/2025 07:00 PM CDT

October 2025

The SNAP Program is in Jeopardy

My office wants you to be aware of significant risks facing the SNAP food-assistance program that are impacting not only our residents, but residents across the country. Because the program is 100% federal funded, when the federal government fails to approve appropriations, the funding can and is already being disrupted.

Hennepin County's Economic Supports staff continue to process SNAP and MFIP applications as much as possible so that when the federal systems are back online, cases can be approved quickly. If you think you might be eligible, please still apply - our team is ready to move your application forward as soon as possible.

Let's be clear: this federal administration is choosing which programs to treat as essential, and they have decided that food assistance is non-essential. That decision will hurt seniors, children, and families who are already struggling with the cost of living.

We know this situation is confusing and frustrating, and we are hopeful Congress will reach a resolution soon. In the meantime, please know that Hennepin County will continue to do everything we can to support residents through this disruption.

What you can do right now:

Stay informed: The State of Minnesota is posting updates about SNAP and MFIP impacts at https://dcyf.mn.gov/federal-shutdown.
Families with young children: You may qualify for the WIC program. Visit https://www.hennepin.us/wic for details.
Find local food help: If you visit hungersolutions.org/find-help, you can enter your address to find resources near you. You can also call the Minnesota Food Helpline at 1-888-711-1151 or United Way 211. Please note that food shelves are very busy right now and you may need to leave a message and wait for a call back.

Hennepin County remains committed to helping residents navigate this uncertainty and ensuring that no one goes hungry while political games are played in Washington.

Coffee & Conversation with Commissioner Anderson

Join me for an upcoming Coffee & Conversation event - a relaxed opportunity to share what's on your mind, ask questions, or simply connect with your county representative over a good cup of coffee. These gatherings are held across the district to make it easy for residents to stop by, chat, and stay engaged in county issues that matter most to them.

Check out the full list of upcoming dates and locations below and come say hello! Your voice helps shape our community.

Maple Grove
Monday, November 3^rd1pm – 2pm
Maple Grove Library, 8001 Main St N, Maple Grove
Training Room 133

Champlin
Tuesday, November 4^th12pm – 1pm
Just Love Coffee Café, 11611 Theatre Dr N, Champlin

Maple Plain
Tuesday, November 4^th3pm – 4pm
Blackwater Coffee & Café, 5159 US 12, Maple Plain

Rogers
Wednesday, November 5^th10am – 11am
Caribou Coffee, 13635 Northdale Boulevard, Rogers

Plymouth
Wednesday, November 5^th2pm – 3pm
Caribou Coffee, 1400 County Road 101 N, Unit A, Plymouth

Please reach out to District Director Clara Severson at clara.severson@hennepin.us if you have any questions!

Commissioner Anderson on Comcast Newsmakers

This summer, I attended the National Association of Counties Annual Conference, and had the opportunity to sit down with Dara Brown at Comcast Newsmakers to talk about how Hennepin County has effectively ended veteran homelessness.

Check out the clip by clicking here!

Upcoming Community Events

West Hennepin Chamber's Trunk or Treat: October 25th, 11am - 1pm in Maple Plain

Magnus Veterans Foundation Trunk or Treat: October 25th, 11am - 2pm in Dayton

Pumpkin Decorating Costume Party: October 25th, 10am - 12pm in Hanover

Three Rivers Big Woods Halloween: October 25th, 10:30am - 3pm in Dayton

Hanover Lions Club Pancake Feed: October 26th, 7:30am - 12pm in Hanover

Still need a Halloween Costume?

Halloween is creeping up fast! If you're still trying to decide how to dress up, don't run to the store to buy a Halloween costume you'll likely only wear once. Instead, shop your closet to build a costume from clothing and props you already have. Here are some ideas:

Taylor Swift & Travis Kelce Engagement (couple)
This costume pairs a striped dress for Taylor and a cable-knit polo and white shorts for Travis. Add a faux engagement ring and a bouquet of roses to play up the vibe of their viral moment.
Wednesday Addams (Wednesday TV show)
This costume is a perfect opportunity to break out that simple, black dress. Add a white collar, paired with black tights and flat shoes for a gothic schoolgirl look. Match Wednesday’s aesthetic with braided pigtails, pale makeup, and a deadpan expression to capture a spooky vibe.
Lumon Industries employee (Severance TV show)
A Lumon Industries employee costume from Severance is familiar to anyone who has ever worked in a stuffy office environment. One take on the costume includes a white button-down shirt, dark slacks or skirt, and a muted tie, reflecting the sterile corporate aesthetic of the show. Throw on an ID badge or lanyard to round out the corporate vibe.
Paul Bunyan
The lore of the legendary lumberjack runs deep in Minnesota. You can perfect the look of the mythical giant with a few fashion staples. A flannel shirt, jeans, suspenders, red beanie or trapper hat, and work boots define the look. Add some creativity and fun to the costume with a stuffed ox or a toy axe.
Kendrick Lamar from the Super Bowl
It’s time to rediscover those bootcut jeans! You were definitely saving them for a reason. Pair the jeans with a hoodie or jacket, backward cap, black gloves, and a chunky chain. Dancing and singing optional.
Rosie the Riveter
This costume features a denim or chambray shirt with rolled-up sleeves, paired with dark pants or jeans to evoke the iconic World War II-era look. Add a red bandana tied around your head and strike the classic “We Can Do It!” pose to truly embody the 1940s icon.
Heartbroken Minnesota sports fan
Are you a long-suffering Minnesota sports fan? It’s time to turn that suffering and heartbreak into a creative Halloween costume. Mix and match your Vikings, Twins, Timberwolves, and Wild fan apparel and paint on some tears or tear-smeared face paint. Get creative with props like a broken foam finger or a fan sign with a phrase like “So close…maybe next year”. You’ve spent years earning the right to wear this costume.
Marty McFly (Back to the Future movie)
This costume includes a red puffer vest layered over a denim jacket with a plaid shirt and jeans. Add white sneakers, a digital watch, and a skateboard or toy hoverboard and you’re ready to head back (or forward) in time.
Stereotypical tourist
This costume proudly showcases a loud Hawaiian shirt, cargo shorts, and sandals with socks. Add accessories like a camera, sunglasses, sunscreen, a fanny pack, and a map. Don’t hesitate to ask for directions to the nearest tourist trap.
Artist
Wear paint-splattered clothes, a beret, and carry a palette or paintbrush. Add a smudge of paint on your face and strike a pose to channel your inner artist.

Fix It Clinic: Maple Grove

Get help with your broken stuff and learn valuable repair skills at free Fix-It Clinics.

Fix-It Clinics offer free, guided assistance from volunteers with repair skills to disassemble, troubleshoot, and (hopefully) fix small household appliances, clothing, electronics, mobile devices and more. Fix-It Clinics teach valuable troubleshooting and basic repair skills, build community connections and reduce the number of repairable items that are thrown in the trash.

District 7's next Fix-It Clinic is:

Saturday, December 13th
Maple Grove Community Center
12951 Weaver Lake Rd
Maple Grove, 55369

For the extensive list of Fix-It Clinics in Hennepin County, click here.

2025 Election: Don't Forget to Return Your Absentee Ballot

Less than 2 weeks until Election Day! If you've requested an absentee ballot by mail, now is the time to think about how you plan to return it to make sure it's received on time. Here are the options for returning your ballot:

By mail: Your ballot must be received by Election Day to be counted. Mail timelines can be unpredictable, so if it's getting close to Election Day, we recommend you drop off your ballot in person to ensure it's received on time.
In person: You can drop off your ballot at your local elections office until 5 PM on Election Day.
Agent return: You can ask someone to drop off your ballot for you at your local elections office. This person must be 18+ and show a photo ID. Any one person can drop off ballots for up to three other voters, besides themselves.
Agent delivery: Voters who are hospitalized, live in a qualifying facility (nursing home, residential treatment center, veterans home, assisted living facility, group home, or battered women's shelter), or have difficulty going to a polling place due to a health condition or disability are eligible to have an agent pick up and return their ballot for them. For more information, click here.