Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer
Neighbors, Inc. is among the 300 food shelves across the state participating in the 43rd annual Minnesota FoodShare campaign, an initiative of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches. It challenges food shelves to see which can raise the most food and money, and the Council of Churches donates a proportionate amount of funds to each based on how much they raise. While these organizations rely on donations throughout the year, the boost is especially needed this time of year as they restock after the holidays and prepare for the busy summer months ahead. The campaign runs through April 6 and, like last year, the need for contributions is at an all-time high.
According to Hunger Solutions, a statewide anti-hunger organization, Minnesota food shelves last year saw a staggering 7.55 million visits, shattering the record of 5.75 million visits set the year prior. Last fiscal year, Neighbors, Inc. distributed more than 901,000 pounds of food to 24,870 families – a significant leap from the year prior when it distributed 774,000 pounds of food to 17,600 families. The organization’s goal during this campaign is to raise 350,000 dollars/pounds of food. Donations may be dropped off at the lower level of Neighbors Inc., 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Monday-Friday, and financial donations can be mailed to Neighbors, Inc. 222 Grand Ave., South St. Paul, or given online at neighborsmn.org. Those seeking to visit the food market must make an appointment at neighborsmn.org or by calling 651-455-5000.
“[This year] Neighbors increased the level of hunger relief services nearly four times over as compared to pre-pandemic,” said Executive Director Dawn Wambeke. “On Monday mornings, we begin scheduling appointments for the week and by noon the appointments are full. We hear this scenario repeated from local hunger relief partners and statewide. The painful reality is that families are going hungry…. The pandemic exacerbated preexisting social and economic disparities that existed prior to the emergence of COVID-19. In addition, the extra COVID-19 services and financial support has been ending. The rising cost of living post-pandemic has also greatly impacted the critical need for basic needs services such as food.”
The city of South St. Paul regularly helps Neighbors, especially during the FoodShare campaign. The theme of the city’s annual 55075 (its zip code) food drive this year is “We can give more in 2024.” Food collections barrels will be at City Hall, schools and other places throughout the community. The City’s goal is to raise 55,075 pounds of non-perishable food items or dollars – $1 equals one pound – for Neighbors, Inc.
“People are extremely grateful for the nutritious food they receive from Neighbors,” said Wambeke. “Community members access our hunger relief services for the first time for so many reasons. Just a few include: loss of job, rising cost of living, underemployment or unexpected health issues. We know that accessing hunger relief programming can be a humbling experience and Neighbors strives to provide the highest dignity services for the community we are honored to serve. We start with a focus on accessibility and meeting individuals where they are at.”
Neighbors’ hunger relief services include its weekly supplemental food, emergency food, chef-prepared meals and home delivery. The food shelf is stocked with a wide array of proteins, culturally specific foods, fruits and vegetables, milk and essential items such as toilet paper and toothbrushes, and people are able to select items as they would at a grocery store.
In 2022, the statewide March FoodShare campaign raised $9.81 million and 5.44 million pounds of food. Last year, numbers increased to $11.2 million and 6.23 million, respectively.
The Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches was founded in 1905 with the mission to unite people of faith and serve people in need. In addition to hunger-relief services, it offers programs and services in youth development, senior support and more.
Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest Heartland, the nation’s third-largest food bank and one of the biggest nonprofit organizations in the state, recently announced a new “moonshot” initiative designed to cut hunger in half for all Minnesotans by 2030. Dubbed “Make Hunger History,” it consists of preventing food insecurity by advocating for investments that will cut costs of other basic living expenses, better tracking of its progress using its new data and analytics team, and seeking extra funding in this year’s legislative session to bolster the existing emergency food network. For more information, visit 2harvest.org.
“The demand for hunger relief programming has exceeded capacity for many, many years and we have not yet come close to meeting demand,” said Wambeke. “We know that this will take the entire community and a wholistic systemic movement to truly address the multitude of causes that result in food insecurity. Neighbors is committed to partnering with Second Harvest Heartland to support their goal to cut hunger in half by 2030…. Neighbors is working hard to integrate our hunger relief programming and financial empowerment services as one step to help lift communities out of poverty.”
Neighbors Inc. established its financial empowerment center in 2021 to guide families out of poverty by providing financial coaching, financial education classes and access to other supportive services. For more information, visit neighborsmn.org.
The Open Door Food Pantry will host a food distribution event 4-6 p.m., Wednesday, Mar. 20, at its mobile food pantry at Kaposia Education Center in South St. Paul. This event supports students who will not receive school meals during spring break. For more information, visit theopendoorpantry.org.
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