Payroll deductions aim to end hunger in Minnesota

We are pleased to announce that Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless is helping in the fight against hunger again this year with a $200,000 grant to Hunger Solutions Minnesota. Since 1986, Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless has provided support to Hunger Solutions Minnesota members. Open Your Heart is supported by individuals all across Minnesota through their workplace giving campaigns mainly through payroll deductions. Click here to see the Current OYH Giving Campaigns.

In response to shifting needs, the distribution of the OYH funds will target specific areas including:

• supporting summer food needs at food shelves ($60,000)
• emergency food grants to food shelves facing a crisis ($20,000)
• grants to emergency meal programs to support food needs ($15,000)
• grants to support the purchase of culturally appropriate and special needs foods ($25,000)
• purchasing of fresh produce and protein items for food banks to distribute to agencies ($80,000)

HSM Member Food Shelves will be receiving applications for summer food, emergency situations and culturally appropriate/special needs foods in the next few weeks. Please note: only HSM Member food shelves are eligible for these grants.

Emergency and culturally appopriate/special needs foods funding will be granted on an on-going basis while funds continue to be available. Summer funds will be distributed to applicants in June and August of 2008.

Please contact Jim Redmond if you have questions regarding HSM grants or if you are not currently an HSM member food shelf and you would like to become one to ensure eligibility for the grants described above.