Member News

Economic pain stresses people and services

hunger — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 10:22:45 -0500

The slumping economy is, predictably, straining Minnesota’s safety net. The number of people seeking food, shelter, medical care and other necessities is up.

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More help this year for low-income residents to pay their heating bills

hunger — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 12:39:08 -0500

There was rare good news on the energy front Thursday as major utilities indicated increases on winter heating bills will be less dramatic than they had predicted months ago.

Worthington: Homeless put strain on agencies

hunger — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:30:14 -0500

Despite a record-breaking collection during the Salvation Army’s local Red Kettle campaign last Christmas season, the agency has run out of the money it designates to help the community’s homeless.

At the same time, local food shelves are flooded with requests for assistance, the Southwest Minnesota Opportunity Council has nearly extinguished its funds for housing assistance and the Worthi

LETTER: Food shelf donations are used wisely

hunger — Fri, 03 Oct 2008 10:28:34 -0500

It was with pleasure that I read about the 25th anniversary of the McLeod Emergency Food Shelf, especially since most food shelf news is about another food shelf closing. Our local food shelf is not about to close, at least not in the near future.

Stillwater Food shelf sees spike in demand

hunger — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 09:41:48 -0500

With the feeble economy, Stillwater’s Valley Outreach has seen a dramatic increase in the number of people seeking services, placing extra demands on its already stressed programs.

Kate Krisik, Valley Outreach executive director, said people who have donated money or food in the past are now knocking on the door in need of assistance.

“There is absolutely more need,” she said this morning.

Duluth: 'Baby steps' cited in fighting poverty

hunger — Wed, 01 Oct 2008 09:36:15 -0500

This year’s report says more than 3,000 people each month in Duluth receive groceries from food shelves, nearly 40 percent of whom are children.

The line at the Red Wing Area Food Shelf is growing

hunger — Fri, 26 Sep 2008 10:07:21 -0500

Mary Felmlee has volunteered at the Red Wing Area Food Shelf for about 12 years. And not once has she seen the number of families utilizing the service decrease.

“You think some months it might get better, but it really doesn’t,” said Felmlee, who is in charge of ordering food for the local shelf.

Coalition says Main Street needs a bailout, too

hunger — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 11:10:56 -0500

Coalition members say Minnesota’s record-high unemployment rate and rising fuel and food prices mean more of Minnesota’s middle-class families are looking to food shelves for help.

Increase the food stamp allowance
Jill Heibert of Hunger Solutions Minnesota says there’s been a 62 percent increase in food shelf use since 2001 in the state.

Food shelf reaches 25-year milestone - Christian Cupboard has grown to help several communities

hunger — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:37:50 -0500

Twenty-five years ago Dick and Sharon Wolff started a small, volunteer-operated food shelf in Woodbury, helping about five needy families per week during the first year.

Now, on the brink of their volunteer project’s 25th anniversary, it has turned into an established non-profit called Christian Cupboard.

Venison can still be donated to Minnesota food shelves

hunger — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 10:23:43 -0500

Venison can still be donated to Minnesota food shelves, but the state will be watching for meat contaminated with lead fragments.

Minnesota’s Department of Agriculture and Department of Natural Resources and Department of Health announced changes in the program Friday after state laboratory tests found varying amounts of lead fragments in venison samples earlier this year.

No illnesses wer