Thank you and Congratulations!

$500,000 of one – time, additional Food Shelf Funding Passes

This has been an exciting few weeks. The 2008 session has ended and in this deficit environment, the Legislature has passed an appropriation for additional food shelf funding.

With rising prices for food, fuel and housing, this is a great victory for the 1 in 17 Minnesotan’s that rely upon food shelves to feed their families.

This amazing success is due to the leadership of many people and organizations.

Hunger Solutions Minnesota thanks Bill author and food shelf advocate, Representative John Benson of Minnetonka for creating the political will to move towards ending hunger in Minnesota,

Benson says, “It’s the responsibility of public officials to meet critical needs, and providing food to those who need it is a critical need.

The leaders also include Michelle Rageth of Friends in Need food shelf (for her testimony), ICA food shelf director Annette Poeschel, members of Minnesota Partners to End Hunger and Hunger Solutions own Colleen Moriarty and Jim Redmond for their on-going communications with key lawmakers.

Please take this opportunity to thank the following lawmakers:

John Benson (DFL) 43B
(651) 296-9934
E-mail: rep.john.benson@house.mn

State Senator Linda Berglin
Telephone (651) 296-4261

Thomas Huntley (DFL) 07A
(651) 296-2228
E-mail: rep.thomas.huntley@house.mn

Karen Clark (DFL) 61A
(651) 296-0294
E-mail: rep.karen.clark@house.mn

Recent news:

• Food crisis hits middle class here, abroad

  It’s not just the poor who are suffering from the global food crisis. More middle-class people are having trouble feeding themselves. Sean Cole visits a family in Minnesota.

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• Number of Minnesota Children in Poverty At Highest Level this Decade

  “Those living in poor households often go hungry, are less healthy, less safe, and more likely to fall behind in school and be unprepared for the work force. We don’t need more research to know that growing poverty harms Minnesota; what we need is for our policy makers to understand that it is in our long-term interest to reverse this trend.”

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• Farm bill highlights rich-poor debate

  The farm bill passed both the House and Senate last week with veto-proof majorities, 81 to 15 in the Senate and 318 to 106 in the House. The bill cuts traditional crop insurance programs by $3.8 billion and authorizes a $10.3 billion increase in nutrition programs.

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