After nearly 30 years as a photofinisher, Viola Rheinhardt never expected to need food stamps. Rheinhardt, who is making mortgage payments on a town home in Rosemount, saw her career come to a full stop in 2007 when her employer shut down its Edina plant.

The number of impoverished and hungry residents in Dakota County has grown, and now community groups are joining forces to make sure everyone gets fed.

STRIB

Local schools look toward free lunch for all students
With large percentages of their students coming from lower-income families, some schools in Duluth and Superior might be able to offer free lunch to all their students.

Millions of low-income Americans live in “food deserts,” neighborhoods that lack convenient access to affordable and healthy food. Instead of supermarkets or grocery stores, these communities often have an abundance of fast-food restaurants and convenience stores. In addition, stores in low-income communities may stock fewer and lower quality healthy foods.

Rising poverty rates, job loss and foreclosures have all been indicators of a struggling economy.

But now more Dakota County residents are finding themselves in desperation at Dakota County food shelves.

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While the other preschoolers were warming up to the vegetable pesto lasagna, 3-year-old Avery Bennett dived in with no hesitation.

“Can I have some more lasagna?” Bennett said from her booster seat.

Congressman Keith Ellison (D-Minneapolis) introduced the School Meals Stigma Reduction Act of 2010, H.R. 5167. The legislation would curtail practices by some school districts that stigmatize children when their families cannot afford to pay for school meals. Thousands of Minnesota children depend on federally subsidized school meals.

Good nutrition is key to healthy aging, yet many seniors would rather skip meals or skimp on food than ask for help.

“Because only half the families eligible for food stamps use food stamps, all of that federal money stays in Washington and doesn’t come to Minnesota. It doesn’t come to families who need it, doesn’t come to children who are hungry, and doesn’t come to communities where that money would be spent.”

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