Area food shelves benefit from statewide campaign

During the month of March, the Twin Cities based organization FoodShare holds a major fundraising drive to provide financial support for about 300 participating food shelves around the state. Local shelves keep track of the number of people served and donations received during the target dates–this year from March 1 to April 6–and provide a summary report to the organization. 

Funds raised by FoodShare during this “Fight Hunger” campaign are then distributed among the organizations in amounts relative to their reported numbers.

Because the FoodShare drive creates an opportunity to get additional donations based on donations received, local food shelves work to increase awareness and encourage giving during the target dates. The FoodShare website indicates the Waseca, Janesville and New Richland food shelves are taking part in the program.

The organization Feeding America reports that nearly 550,000 Minnesotans are facing hunger. About a third of these individuals are under the age of 18. 

FoodShare states that Minnesota’s charitable food system (food shelves and food banks, meal programs, etc.) is running “at capacity,” and goes on to list numerous contributing factors, including rising food prices, growing inflation rates, and slowing wage growth. Information available on the FoodShare website states, “Massive leaps in food shelf attendance over the last five years suggest emergency food assistance providers will continue to be a critical resource to communities across the state.”

Information on the site also states the annual numbers of visits to food shelves are now 150% higher than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, with growing numbers of seniors becoming eligible for services.