Hunger in Minnesota Hunger Solutions Minnesota Dedicated to

Hunger in Minnesota

Hunger Solutions Minnesota Dedicated to ending hunger 20 years of comprehensive research on hunger in Minnesota.

HUNGER 35 million people consistently experience hunger in our country. Increased food shelf demand signals next sign of concern…foreclosure.

Hunger in Minnesota • Is a chronic problem • 8. 2 % of Minnesota households are hungry every day. • Food shelf visits increased 50% over the last 6 years • 1. 8 million visits in 2006 • Hunger costs Minnesota $1. 1 billion every year.

Who is hungry? • 50% of emergency food recipients are children • 20% are seniors

Minnesota’s Response • State funding for 300 shelves • TEFAP distribution of surplus and bonus food • Reduced barriers to food stamp usage

MN Food Bank Regions

Federal Nutrition Programs • Food Stamps • Universal School breakfast • National School Lunch • Summer Food Service • TEFAP

Unused Federal Dollars • $838 million in food stamp funds lost over 6 years • MN could gain $20 million yearly by feeding more eligible kids school breakfast, lunch and during the summer.

What more should the State of Minnesota do? 1. Work to Pass the new Farm Bill 2. Increase Food Shelf Funding 3. Increase food support outreach

Federal Farm Bill • About 60% of the farm bill appropriation covers nutrition programs, such as food stamps, that help poor Americans get enough to eat. • For the last few years, hunger in America has been growing and the food-stamp programs have not kept up with rising costs

Food Shelf Funding • Increase the food shelf funding to keep pace with the demand for food shelf visits • Increase that funding 45% to $1, 853, 100 • Currently the funding has remained at the 1995 level of $1, 278, 000 • This funding is available to all food shelves in the State of Minnesota

Food Support Outreach Engage the counties and local food retailers – 200, 000 additional Minnesotans are eligible

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