More people are struggling to put food on their tables than ever before.

The evidence is in the growing lineup outside the North Anoka County Emergency (NACE) food shelf in East Bethel every week.

The food shelf was established in 1985 to respond to three or four local families in need.

But the current economy is putting more pressure on people’s incomes, who are then turning to area food shelves to fill their own cupboards. The week before Easter, NACE provided food for 31 local families.

“After 25 years we know that hunger is not going away,” said Jim Kappelhoff, president and CEO of NACE who oversees the weekly operations of the food shelf.

Read More