Jake Spitzack
Staff Writer

Neighborhood House and Neighbors, Inc. are among the approximately 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 one can raise the most food and money. 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, last year food shelves in Minnesota saw a staggering 7.55 million visits, shattering the record of 5.75 million visits set the year before. Neighborhood House, 179 Robie St. E., St. Paul, operates the Wellstone Center Food Market, which serves residents of Ramsey County. Last fiscal year, the market distributed approximately 665,320 pounds of food to 10,777 individuals and 4,688 families. Its goal for the campaign is to raise 325,000 dollars/pounds of food. Donations may be dropped off at the center at any time. According to Neighborhood House, $15 allows it to purchase groceries for an emergency to-go bag, $60 covers food costs for a family of four, $80 covers the cost of 30 dozen eggs and $225 is enough to purchase enough protein for 25 families of four. People seeking to receive food must make an appointment before to visiting the market. To make an appointment, call 651-789-3630 between 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on weekdays. For more information, visit neighborhoodhousemn.org.
“There are numerous factors that undoubtedly contribute to the rise in food shelf visits in Minnesota,” said Cassie Kienbaum, Neighborhood House director of Food Support Programs. “The sun-setting of emergency COVID-19 benefits such as e-SNAP, which ended in February 2023, hit our families hard. The effects of inflation – high-cost food, rent and gas prices – can still be felt. And when people have to choose between budgeting for housing, transportation, utilities, medical bills, and food, we know that food is often where they sacrifice.” She expects this trend to continue.
Neighbors, Inc., 222 Grand Ave., South St. Paul, serves residents in northern Dakota County. Last fiscal year, the nonprofit 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 for 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 through Friday, and financial donations can be mailed to Neighbors, Inc. or made online at neighborsmn.org. Those seeking to visit the food market must make an appointment at neighborsmn.org or by calling 651-455-5000.
Last year’s FoodShare campaign raised $11.2 million and 6.23 million pounds of food, up from $9.81 and 5.44 million pounds in 2022.
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.
“We all know that it can be hard to ask for help [especially the first time],” said Kienbaum. “That is why the food support staff at Neighborhood House works hard to create a welcoming and judgement-free space for all. I am proud of how our staff greets, listens and seeks to support shoppers visiting our cost-free food markets. When an individual meets with one of our food support intake workers at Neighborhood House, the care in the room is palpable. This isn’t just a job for them.”
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 the upcoming legislative session to bolster the existing emergency food network. For more information, visit 2harvest.org.

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