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.

“I’ve seen numbers as high as a 45 percent increase in the numbers of people who are coming to the food shelves. Some cities are running out of food by midweek, and they have to turn people away with nothing at all. So, we really do have a crisis.”

Minnesota food shelves report almost two million visits last year, and one in 17 state residents relies on them for nutrition on a regular basis.

Read/Listen