Most Minnesotans can walk into a grocery store and find whatever’s on their list — oranges, chicken or even cilantro.

But a 28-year-old mom from Brooklyn Park can’t do that.

Marquetta lost her job in December, and on Monday she ran out of food.

The number of poor people in the US is millions higher than previously known, with 1 in 6 Americans – many of them 65 and older – struggling in poverty due to rising medical care and other costs, according to preliminary census figures released Wednesday.

At the same time, government aid programs such as tax credits and food stamps kept many people out of poverty, helping to ensure the poverty

In Eden Prairie, where median household incomes are almost 70 percent higher than those statewide, recession is making its presence felt.

For the first time in 30 years, median incomes that topped $100,000 a decade ago are flat or dropping.

Minnesota was 1 of 3 states with the hunger rate below 14%. Jan.-Jun. of 2010 12% of our population reported a hunger hardship to the Gallup Healthways Well Being Index.

Full Report

An overabundance of food is a holiday “tradition” for many families planning their Thanksgiving menus. Not so for thousands of Minnesotans, however, as they struggle to put even the most basic of meals on their table. According to the U.S.

The use of food stamps has increased dramatically in the U.S., as the federal government ramps up basic assistance to meet the demands of an increasingly desperate population.

The number of food stamp recipients increased 16% over last year. This means that 14% of the population is now living on food stamps.

Gov.-elect Mark Dayton said hunger is a critical problem in the state at a fundraiser Tuesday for food shelves in northeastern Minnesota.

“One out of every ten Minnesotans uses a food shelf. And in this day and age, in our state, that’s a terrible commentary on our economic crisis and our social crisis,” Dayton said.

Sen. Tom Bakk, DFL-Cook, organized the St.

To benefit Arrowhead regional food shelves serving working poor and families/senior in poverty

WHAT:
Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Senator Tom Bakk will host the 4th Annual Stock the Shelves event. This event raises proceeds dedicated to Arrowhead regional food shelves. This year, Governor-Elect Mark Dayton and Minnesota Viking Adrian Peterson are scheduled to attend.

STOCKING RANGE FOOD SHELVES
ANNUAL EVENT IN TWIN CITIES DEC. 21 WILL HAVE GOVERNOR-ELECT DAYTON ATTENDING

ST. PAUL – Organizers of the Stock the Shelves Arrowhead Region Food Shelf Fundraiser are hoping for a little boost in donations this year thanks to added attractions – visits from MN Viking Adrian Peterson, Governor-elect Mark Dayton, and St. Paul Mayor Coleman.

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.