As the cost of food and fuel skyrockets, and the April 18 deadline for the current Farm Bill extension nears, millions of hungry Americans are turning to the nation’s food banks, soup kitchens and food pantries for help and finding shockingly low levels of inventory. The Farm Bill, stuck in Congressional debate for several months, would bring much needed relief to food banks and low-income Americans through increased funding and improvements in federal nutrition programs, including the Emergency Food Assistance Program (TEFAP) and the Food Stamp Program.

Hunger Solutions Minnesota, a nonprofit statewide partnership of organizations fighting hunger, Minnesota food shelves had nearly 1.9 million visits in 2006 – up over 5% from the previous year. And while the need for donations at local food shelves is real and mounting, Hansen’s new venison donation initiative is expected to produce upwards of 6,000 donated deer from Minnesota hunters annually – providing approximately 200,000 pounds of high quality, high protein meat to be distributed to the state’s hungry population.

When many hunger organizations say their goal is to work themselves out of their jobs, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank has another take on its service to the region.

Each year it distributes over 2.5 million pounds – or over 60 semi trailer loads – of food and grocery product that might otherwise go to waste to northeastern Minnesota and northwest Wisconsin regional non-profit agencies and to people in need directly.

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Food Shelves No Longer Just Emergency Option for Growing Number of Families in Rochester and Across Southeast Minnesota

For Immediate Release
March 09, 2006

New Hunger Solutions Minnesota Report Finds 83 Percent Increase in Food Shelf and Meal Program Usage in Rochester and Southeast Minnesota

Rochester, MN – The use of food shelves and on-site meal programs in the Rochester region far out-stripped the rest of the state, according to a new report from Hunger Solutions Minnesota released today. The report, based on surveys of thousands of Minnesotans who used food shelves and on-site meal programs to feed their families in 2005, found that compared to 2000, the number of families using these programs grew by 85 percent in the Rochester region. By contrast, usage was up only 45 percent state-wide.

New Report: Food Shelves No Longer Just Emergency Option for Growing Number of Families with Children in Duluth Region

For Immediate Release
March 07, 2006

New Hunger Solutions Minnesota Report Finds 114 Percent Increase in Food Shelf and Meal Program Usage in Duluth and Northern Minnesota.

Duluth, MN – The use of food shelves and on-site meal programs in Duluth region far out-stripped the rest of the state, according to a new report from Hunger Solutions Minnesota released today. The report, based on surveys of thousands of Minnesotans who used food shelves and on-site meal programs to feed their families in 2005, found that compared to 2000, the number of families using these programs grew by 114 percent in the Duluth region. By contrast, usage was up only 45 percent state-wide.

Congress Looks to Minnesota to Feed More Kids During Summer Months
Minnesota Could Get Summer Lunches to 160,000 More Kids and Tap $2.7 Million in Federal Resources

For Immediate Release July 24, 2006

St. Paul, MN – A new report from the Food Research and Action Center (FRAC) ranked Minnesota 31st in the nation for overall participation in summer lunch programs. The report found that Minnesota could potentially administer summer lunches to over 160,000 additional low-income children and tap 2.7 million dollars in federal resources.

Legislation pending in the Senate would qualify Minnesota for the Lugar Pilot (Simplified Summer Food Program), an initiative aimed at reducing bureaucratic obstacles for states struggling to feed children who rely on school lunches during most of the year. If the legislation passes, Minnesota will join 26 other states already adopted by the program.

Hunger A Growing Problem for Families in Twin Cities Most Affluent Suburbs

For Immediate Release June 06, 2006

Hunger Solutions Minnesota Report Finds Increases as High as 541 Percent in Food Shelf and Meal Program Usage in Western Metro Communities.

Minnetonka, MN – The use of food shelves and on-site meal programs increased much faster in the Twin Cities’ traditionally-affluent western suburbs than it did in the rest of the state — going up 541 percent in one community — according to a report released today by Hunger Solutions Minnesota.