Hard Times for Struggling Families

Food shelf use in our region continues to increase as the recession continues (despite reports otherwise) and unemployment stays high. Compared to the first three quarters of 2008, household visits to food shelves are up 13%. People who were able to get by on their own before, are now finding they need help meeting basic needs. As we enter the winter home heating season, we expect even more people will have to turn to food shelves to put food on the table and keep the house warm.

One in eight Americans struggles with hunger. In Minnesota, 11% of our children live in poverty and 33% of children receive free or reduced lunch, according to the Minnesota Kids Count Data Book 2009. Children are especially vulnerable and suffer long term consequences from hunger and poverty. The current economic crisis will negatively affect the health and education of many of our children for years to come.

Garden Program Allows Kids to Get Hands Dirty With Gardening

Garden Program Allows Kids to Get Hands Dirty With Gardening

Hunger Action Month was Action Packed!

The final events of Hunger Action Month were Bloomer’s Garden Center Scare Away Hunger Scarecrow Making at the garden center on September 25^th and 26^th and the Grand Rapids Itasca Area CROP Walk on Sunday, October 4^th. Many local people came together to fight hunger at these annual events.

Bloomer’s 5^th Annual Scare Away Hunger included students from Southwest and St. Joseph’s Elementary Schools. Families and individuals were invited to assemble scarecrows for their home or business for a donation of either $20 or the equivalent in food. Thanks to the efforts of the great people at Bloomer’s and the event sponsors, over $860 and almost 100 pounds of food was raised to support hunger relief in Grand Rapids.

Walkers in the Grand Rapids CROP Walk on October 4^th had several options of routes from about one mile to six miles. Most of the approximately 50 walkers took the long route and ended up wet from rain. The area churches and individuals who participated raised over $5,000 for hunger relief locally, nationally and internationally.

Applebee’s Pancake Breakfast for Hunger Action Month

On Saturday, September 19th, over 125 people took action against hunger by eating pancakes at Applebee’s in Grand Rapids.  More than $1050 was raised at the event.  Thanks to all the volunteers who cooked, served, waited tables, or cleaned up.  Thanks also to Applebee’s for the opportunity to raise much needed funds to fight hunger.

Retired Educators Take Action Against Hunger

Retired Educators from Itasca County packed 624 commodity food boxes on September15th at Second Harvest.  This lively group is the third of the three that pack most of the 2,000 plus commodity food boxes distributed by Second Harvest every month.  There is a friendly competition between the groups and they  work hard to make the goal each month.

Thanks to all our dedicated volunteers for taking part in Hunger Action Month and every other month of the year.

Don Messick Receives 2009 Hunger Action Award

Don Messick from Lakes Area Food Shelf in Nisswa/Pequot Lakes is the 2009 Hunger Action Award recipient.  Don began working with Lakes Area Food Shelf in 1991.  Since that time the food shelf has moved and grown under his dedicated leadership.  Don’s career was in the grocery business and he transferred his skills to feeding hungry people in his retirement.  Now age 89, Don continues as the key volunteer at Lakes Area Food Shelf.   Congratulations and thanks to Donald Messick, Second Harvest North Central Food Bank Hunger Action Award Winner 2009.

 

Don Messick, 2009 Hunger Action Award winner with Lakes Area Food Shelf Board President Lou Timmerman and Second Harvest Operations Manager Justin Linnell.  The award was given at the Second Harvest North Central Food Bank’s annual food shelf conference at the Blandin Foundation on September 11, 2009.  The event was held in conjunction with Hunger Action Month.

Alliance Church Takes Hunger Action

Members of Grand Rapids Alliance Church participated in Hunger Action Month by packing 480 commodity food boxes (10 pallets) on Thursday, Sept 10th, to be distributed to seniors and children in the region next month.  Alliance is one of the groups that meet here monthly for fellowship and volunteerism.  Thanks to groups like Alliance, Second Harvest is able to distribute over 2,000 Commodity Supplemental Food Program boxes every month of the year.    

Thanks Alliance for your doing your part in Hunger Action Month!