One in five families with children in our community now struggles with hunger

Minnesotans are skipping meals and making unhealthy choices about nutrition. Despite some recent positive economic news, over 80,000 Minnesotans depend on food assistance every week. Children are going to school hungry, seniors are taking medications without the right nutrition, and parents are making tough choices about where to spend their meager cash reserves.
A report released today by Hunger Solutions Minnesota reveals that thousands of Minnesota citizens are relying upon our safety net of programs to help put food on the table. The report is a year end review of key hunger touch points in Minnesota including:
• Food Support – 66% increase in enrollment since Fall 2008
• Child hunger – 40% of all public school students qualify for assistance
• Food shelf visits in the Metro jumped 97% from Fall 2008 to Fall 2010
Colleen Moriarty, Executive Director of Hunger Solutions Minnesota, said, “For the most part, we have been able to meet the need with new programs and simplified program access. I am concerned that we are now facing donor fatigue for basic needs and will not be able to keep up with the steep rise in demand. We are focusing on getting food where it is needed most, expanding the capacity of food shelves to serve their communities, and generating and distributing vital funds for members. We ask all Minnesotans to support local food shelves with cash donations and to become a Voice of Hunger advocate.”

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ABOUT HUNGER SOLUTIONS MINNESOTA
Hunger Solutions Minnesota is a comprehensive hunger relief organization that works to end hunger in Minnesota. We take action to assure food security for all Minnesotans by supporting over 300 agencies that provide food to those in need, advancing sound public policy, and guiding grassroots advocacy. HSM advocates for the maximum use of all federal public nutrition dollars available and works to improve low-income Minnesotans’ access to all nutrition programs. The HSM Minnesota Food HelpLine (1-888-711-1151) helps enroll low-income Minnesotans in the Food Support (Food Stamps) program and helps callers find emergency food assistance in their area. For further information, visit or call 651-789-9843.