Food shelves statewide get boost from Minnesota FoodShare

Long weeks of heat and humidity begin to dull recollection of the dedication and creativity displayed by groups, businesses and individuals from throughout the state during this year’s March Campaign.

But those inspiring efforts will come back into focus this week as 286 food shelves throughout the state will be receiving a portion of $900,000 being distributed from contributions made during Minnesota FoodShare’s annual food and fund drive. The checks to individual food shelves range from $125 to more than $36,000.

These funds come at a crucial time for food shelves. Families that rely on free or reduced-price lunches during the school year turn to food shelves during the summer to help make ends meet. In addition, food shelf donations tend to drop off during the summer months because people are busy with vacations, trips to the cabin and other activities.

“Back in March, thousands of caring people pulled together to help restock food shelves in the urban cores and every corner of our state with food items,” Sara Nelson-Pallmeyer, director of Minnesota FoodShare said. “Likewise, the generosity of thousands contributing to our fund drive will help food shelves continue to serve as an important lifeline for our neighbors struggling to make ends meet.”

Minnesota FoodShare’s March Campaign raises more than half the food distributed annually through food shelves across the state. This annual grassroots food and fund drive is the only statewide effort where every dollar donated goes directly to food shelves to purchase food for the hungry.

However, Minnesota FoodShare is much more than the March Campaign. Through advocacy on the local, state and national level and support of other programs such as the summer lunch initiative and GardenShare, Minnesota FoodShare continues to raise awareness about hunger issues and ensure the hungry have access to their most basic need.

Minnesota FoodShare also supports food shelves statewide in a variety of ways throughout the year. On Aug. 21-23 in Duluth, the program will be partnering with many groups to present a Food Access Summit. Focusing on expanding opportunities for low-income Minnesotans, the conference will feature a variety of speakers and topics designed to inform food shelf staff, volunteers and board members.

Minnesota FoodShare is one of a family of human service programs of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, focusing on helping seniors, empowering urban American Indians, nurturing families, fighting hunger, reducing crime and building a caring community.

For more information about Minnesota FoodShare or the Food Access Summit, visit mnfoodshare.gmcc.org.

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