The economic problems facing Minnesota are adding more fuel to the growing problem of hunger. Workers at Minnesota’s food shelves said demand has skyrocketed this year, as more bread winners find themselves out of work.

As the recession hit rock bottom, more than 500 families in the Golden Valley area alone were forced to feed their hunger at a local food shelf. They now depend on the well stocked shelves of PRISM. The acronym stands for People Responding in Social Ministry, a social service agency to assist needy families in Golden Valley, New Hope, Robbinsdale and Crystal.

“I can’t work right now so nothing else I could do,” said Jason Beatt.

About a year ago, Beatt found himself both unemployed and disabled with a serious back injury. He also has two elementary aged boys to feed as well. He said the food shelf operated by PRISM is his saving grace.

He said that he doesn’t know how he’d get by without it, adding, “the food shelf and disability, I get disability from the state but it isn’t much. It doesn’t pay the bills.”

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