Jump in last year ‘unprecedented’

By: Jon Avise, South Washington County Bulletin

Friends in Need Food Shelf director Michelle Rageth said last week she expects the St. Paul Park food bank to serve more than 19,000 people and give out nearly 1 million pounds of food in 2009, dramatic increases over a year ago that is in line with a recent statewide study.

The economic recession, high food costs and a rising unemployment rate are factors contributing to an unprecedented jump in the number of Minnesotans visiting food shelves during the first quarter of 2009, according to a report released by Hunger Solutions Minnesota last week.

More than 614,000 Minnesotans called on food shelves to put meals on the table during the first quarter of the year, a 28 percent spike.

South Washington County Bulletin