CEAP (Community Emergency Assistance Program) is a community-based charity that has partnered with other resources to assist people in need in the Twin Cities area for 40 years. Today, CEAP distributes approximately 1,000,000 pounds of food from the food shelf each year. Virtually all of the clients that CEAP works with fall into the categories of low-wage families and senior citizens, persons with disabilities, persons of color, the working poor, immigrants and/or refugees. CEAP's mission began as one of social love CEAP's current mission is to serve individuals and families in financial distress and to maximize their ability to live independently and with dignity.