Solutions Blog

Senator Tom Bakk Hosts Seventh Annual Food Shelf Fundraiser

Governor Dayton Also Attended to Benefit Hunger Solutions Minnesota
St. Paul – Last night, December 19, State Senator Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) hosted the seventh annual “Stock the Shelves” fundraiser for Arrowhead Region food shelves. The event was from 4:00 to 6:00 PM at The Liffey Irish Pub in downtown St. Paul. Governor Mark Dayton also attended the event which raised over $120,000 for Hunger Solutions Minnesota.
“I’m proud to help raise money for the Arrowhead Region food shelves. Even with a recovering economy, job losses and rising food costs mean more families are stretched to the limit. We are doing our part to help, and I hope all Minnesotans will take time to help others this holiday season,” said Bakk.

“Senator Bakk’s leadership in the fight to end hunger has really made a difference in his community and across the state. This year we will surpass $500,000 raised for food shelves since 2007,” said Lydia Bjorge, the organizer of the event and an employee at Lockridge Grindal Nauen, a yearly sponsor of the event.

“Thomson Reuters is proud to support Senator Bakk’s efforts to provide assistance for needy families in Minnesota. Hunger is a continuing challenge, and we’re glad to work with Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Senator Bakk to do our part and help,” said Rick King of Thomson Reuters, a presenting sponsor of the event.

“For many people, holiday meals are celebratory experiences that foster deeper connections between family and friends. But for thousands of Minnesota families, it’s a source of anxiety and fear because they don’t know if they can afford their next meal,” said Colleen Moriarty, executive director of Hunger Solutions Minnesota. “We appreciate this terrific support for low-income families from Senator Bakk and our sponsors.”

While Minnesota’s economic climate continues to improve, one in five families with children still struggle with hunger because of poverty, food access difficulties, and a lack of education about nutrition assistance benefits. Simultaneously, community food shelves are stretched to the limit.

Minnesota food shelves are on record pace to exceed 3 million visits for the third consecutive year. In addition, food shelves are seeing an increase in visits from people whose SNAP benefits were cut Nov. 1st. Some food shelves have implemented waiting lists to handle the increase, sometimes with a week or more wait for an appointment.

Presenting sponsors of the event include Thomson Reuters, Lockridge Grindal Nauen P.L.L.P., Cliffs Natural Resources, Ameriprise Financial, and MN Coalition to Protect Small Businesses on Wheels.
Gold sponsors include Minnesota Power, AT&T, Twin Metals Minnesota, Payday America, Microsoft, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Allianz Life Insurance Company of North America, R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, DaVita Healthcare Partners, Inc., Enbridge, United States Steel, and the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades.
Silver sponsors include Dave Johnson, State Farm Insurance, MillerCoors, and Molpus Timberlands Management.

Food shelves benefiting from this event include:

Aurora-Hoyt Lakes-Biwabik-Area Food Shelf
Babbit Food Shelf
Chisholm Area Food Shelf
Cook Community Food Shelf
Deer River Area Food Shelf
Elijah’s Pantry-Two Harbors
Ely Area Food Shelf
Falls Hunger Coalition
Grand Marais Food Shelf
Grand Rapids Food Shelf
Hermantown Food Shelf
Hibbing Food Shelf
Northern Itasca Emergency Food Shelf
Proctor Food Shelf
Quad City Food Shelf-Gilbert
Salvation Army Hibbing
Salvation Army International Falls
Salvation Army Virginia
Silver Bay Area Food Shelf
Tower Area Food Shelf
Two Harbors Area Food Shelf

State Senator Tom Bakk (DFL-Cook) is the Minnesota State Senate Majority Leader and resides on Lake Vermilion near Cook, MN with his wife Laura. He has served in the state legislature since 1994.

Celebrating its 35th year, Lockridge Grindal Nauen is a Minnesota-based law firm that houses one of the largest bipartisan government affairs groups in the state with offices in Minneapolis, MN and Washington, DC. LGN offers comprehensive legal, government relations, grassroots advocacy and communications services from the Courtroom to the Capitol.

Hunger Solutions Minnesota works to end hunger by taking action, advancing public policy and guiding grassroots advocacy on behalf of hungry Minnesotans and the diverse groups that serve them. They connect Minnesota’s food shelves and hunger-relief organizations with the necessary funding, technical assistance and logistical support to reach thousands of Minnesota individuals, families and children in need.20131219_160158

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