Hunger Solutions joins forces with The Food Group!
We are excited to announce that Hunger Solutions Minnesota has officially joined forces with The Food Group on March 1, 2024. As trusted long-time partner organizations with closely aligned values, vision, and approach, we look forward to sharing the innovative ways that our combined efforts will provide food for today and change for tomorrow. This is a significant step forward in our commitment to affecting real change for Minnesota – employing this model will put us in a stronger position to pursue lasting impact.
If you’re unfamiliar with The Food Group and their work, The Food Group works across the food system from production to distribution. Working towards building a stronger and healthier community for everyone, they focus on breaking down barriers to growing good food locally and getting good food to those who need it most. Their programs center on values of nutrition, equity, local foods, community voice, and systems change. You can learn even more at https://thefoodgroupmn.org.
The Food Group’s Executive Director Sophia Lenarz-Coy, who formerly worked at Hunger Solutions as an Associate Director, will lead the expanded organization. All our current programs will continue, and all our staff will stay on through the transition, as we add Hunger Solutions’ statewide services to The Food Group’s network. We will continue to provide comprehensive statewide service including the Minnesota Food HelpLine, SNAP Rx, Market Bucks, and the Minnesota Food Shelf Program Grants. None of our services are ending – instead, they’re being enhanced through this new partnership. We’ll still be here for real-time response and support for communities statewide.
The new capacities created by Hunger Solutions and The Food Group joining forces will allow us to strengthen our statewide presence and influence public policy, rooted in our shared values and reflecting community priorities, transforming Minnesota’s food system. The Food Group’s strong community roots and engagement will help bring data and human stories of lived experience into our advocacy efforts, strengthening our legislative efforts. This partnership will enhance what really works for MN – resources to provide more service from food shelves; training for farmers markets and emerging farmers; and fresh and culturally-connected food.
Thank you for your continued support – your effort gets us closer to a Minnesota without hunger.