As part of the ribbon cutting for its 16th Twin Cities Xfinity store in Richfield, Comcast made good on its mission to invest in the communities it serves, donating $2500 to Veap, the Twin Cities’ largest food pantry. Veap not only provides access to healthy food, but also social services and financial assistance, needs that are growing locally.
“In 2024, we had 256,000 visits to our pantry locations,” said Jennifer Harrison, vice president of advancement at VEAP. That’s a more than 150% increase from four years ago, when pantry visits were at 100,000.
Harrison says the numbers will likely continue to increase as changes to Minnesota’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits are implemented by the federal government. “That gives our participants less purchasing power, and we feel we will see more of those folks coming to us for help.”
Harrison says every donation and every dollar counts. “We literally could not do the work we do without donations like this. The dollars also stay right in this community, so you never know if you are helping your neighbor or your child’s classmate at school.”
Harrison accepted the $2,500 check on behalf of Veap during a ribbon-cutting event for Comcast’s newest Xfinity store in Richfield.
“The store represents more than just a retail space, it’s an investment in our community, bringing jobs and the latest innovative technologies closer to home, said Mary Supple, mayor of Richfield. “We look forward to the positive impact Comcast will have in our city while helping residents stay connected.”
The new Richfield Xfinity store offers a storefront location where visitors can experience Xfinity’s offerings, including internet, video, mobile, voice, and home security.
“Richfield is only 7.2 square miles, so we’re a small community,” said Sharon Christensen, a member of the Richfield City Council. “We have so many different apartment complexes, we’ve got new housing coming in, and it’s always a better fit if you can go in person for technical help.”
By the end of 2025, Comcast will also open an additional location in Chanhassen, bringing its store total to 17 in the Twin Cities.
“We are doubling down on our commitment to bring Xfinity closer to the communities we serve,” said Rachel Johnson, vice president, sales and marketing, Comcast Midwest. Xfinity locations give customers access to support, exchange, and upgrade equipment as well as a location to pay their bill, for example.
“Over the last three years, we’ve invested over $534 million just in the Twin Cities area, expanding our network, constructing to more homes and businesses so they can enjoy our services,” said Kalyn Hove, regional senior vice president, Comcast Midwest.
The new Richfield Xfinity store is located at 1704 E. 66th Street and is open Monday through Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.
To learn more about Veap, its services in the Twin Cities, and how to donate, go to their website here.