Recent data from the U.S. Census Bureau reveals that pandemic-related assistance, namely in the form of Economic Impact Payments, lifted nearly 12 million Americans above the federal poverty line in 2020. Still, millions of Americans continue to struggle to make ends meet and one of the most critical areas of need remains food support.
In the past year, more than a third of Minnesota households have reported some level of food insecurity at one point or another and visits to local food shelves shattered the previous annual record. Today, and estimated 650,000 Minnesotans are food insecure, an increase of nearly 200,000 people since 2019. Moreover, food insecurity affects one in every six Minnesota children and BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color) families are between two to four times more likely to face hunger than white households in our state.
There is help available for individuals and families through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). If you reside in either Ramsey or Washington counties and need assistance paying for groceries, please call Community Action’s Food Support program at 651-603-5883, email foodsupport@caprw.org, or visit us online. For residents of other Minnesota Counties in need of food support benefits, please connect to a SNAP specialist online.
And, for information on other food assistance programs in Minnesota (WIC, SCFP, TEFAP), locating your local food shelf, and finding other community-based resources (free meal programs, produce giveaways, farmers markets), you can call the Minnesota Food Help Line at 888-711-1151 or visit either Second Harvest Heartland or Hunger Solutions Minnesota.
