Second Harvest Heartland released the results of its recent Statewide Hunger Study, showing that one in five Minnesota households are experiencing food insecurity and cannot afford the food they need.
Second Harvest's Executive Director Allison O'Toole says they have to get at the root causes of food insecurity so that fewer people need emergency food support. She says she's also fearful of the current administration's intention to cut federal funds.
"I am nervous," explains O'Toole. "And where I stay focused is impact to Minnesota families. Right now, Minnesota families cannot afford their lives. Grocery prices have increased 30% since 2019. That same goes for energy prices, rent, and people are really struggling to make ends meet."
O'Toole says in January 2024, they announced a goal of cutting the hunger rate in half for all Minnesotans by 2030. They are holding a summit Friday to look for new ways to address the ongoing hunger crisis.
But the numbers show nearly 20% of Minnesotans use food shelves and some 30% say they are not confident about having enough food in the next year. Those numbers go up in rural areas.
"We're always in high gear here at Second Harvest Heartland," O'Toole says. "I think the hunger relief network in Minnesota is always in high gear. We have been in the highest gear since the pandemic, and we're watching."
Friday's summit, with hundreds of community leaders, policymakers, business leaders and hunger fighters coming together has the goal of reducing the need for emergency food through policy and partnerships.
WCCO's "End Hunger Together Radiothon" to benefit Second Harvest will air all day Tuesday right here on 830 WCCO and the Audacy app with all proceeds going to help food shelves across Minnesota.