Economic Stimulus

Everyone is talking about the economic stimulus. How will it affect the people that depend on food banks and food shelves? We know that the House passed economic recovery package will increase funding for food stamps known as Food Support in Minnesota and SNAP elsewhere. Putting extra resources into food stamp allowances will put much needed food on the tables of low income people.
There is also additional funding for the WIC program and The Emergency Food Assistance Program. The TEFAP program is very important for food banks. This program provides high quality commodity food for food banks to distribute to food shelves and soup kitchens.
The economic crisis has significantly increased demand at our food bank. New faces are visiting us every day due to rising unemployment, layoffs and increasing costs for basic needs like housing, food and heating.
The Senate's American Recovery and Investment Act includes increased funding for these extremely important programs. It is critical for food banks that these funds are available so that we can meet the needs of low income people who are disproportionately affected by the recession.

Renew America Together

President Elect Obama has called on Americans to join him in a National Day of Service on January 19th. He is asking us to "Renew America Together" not just on Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday and the eve of Inauguration Day, but to make a committment to on-going service throughout the year. We know that You understand and practice service to others and we sincerely appreciate President Elect Obama bringing national attention to the cause of hunger.

Our new president knows and undertands hunger issues. His mother used food stamps for a short time when he was a child. His campaign published a paper with the Obama/Biden plan for "Tackling Domestic Hunger." He has expressed support for federal nutrition programs that provide hunger assistance, especially for children.

Join us and support Renewing America Together. There are many ways you can learn about hunger in America and in Minnesota. Educate yourself and take action against hunger.

• www.FeedingAmerica.org has a Hunger Action Center. Sign up to be a hunger advocate.
• Check out www.HungerSolutions.org to learn about hunger in Minnesota.

There are many ways to help right here:

• Volunteer at your local food shelf or soup kitchen. Second Harvest's website has a list of our member agencies. Find out which one is closest to you and give them a call.
• Call Second Harvest to volunteer at the food bank 218.326.4420.
• Organize a food drive or a fund drive at work or with an organization you belong to.
• Tell your local goverment officials that hunger relief policies are important and should be supported.

Join in the committment to service and we will "Renew America Together."

Happy New Year?

Now is the time we generally look back at the past year and set goals for the next. Last year wasn't all bad, but there were many challenges:

• More and more people are in crisis and need food assistance
• The food supply wasn't available to keep up with the demand
• Food costs rose significantly
• Fuel costs for food delivery skyrocketed

The good news is that we have incredible support from the community:

• Many volunteers are willing and able to help
• Financial donations met our goals
• Our programs provided food assistance and hope to thousands of people
• We have one new truck on the road and another coming this month that will enable more efficient, reliable delivery to our 145 agencies

Our goals for 2009 are to acquire and distribute almost 3.5 million pounds of food this year. There are many unknowns that will certainly affect our ability to meet this goal. Food distributors may be less likely to donate, foundations have decreased resources for grants, corporations may cut their charitable donations and individuals, who formerly supported food banks and food shelves, may find themselves in need instead.

There are two things I'm sure we can count on. 1.) Unfortunately, more people will be in need of food assistance before this economic crisis improves, 2.) Fortunately, our volunteers and donors will continue to help as much as they are able.

It will be a good year...together we will do all that we can to end hunger in our communities. Happy New Year!

Holiday Closure

We Did It! Another successful year producing the Itasca Holiday Program is behind us. With the help of hundreds of volunteers, we packed approximately 2,000 toy bags and 1,700 food boxes. Then we distributed all of the packages through nine locations in Itasca County and Hill City. We had enough toys and food boxes or turkeys for everyone. The community was generous in providing the gifts and funds needed to help our neighbors in need during this extra-ordinarily stressful holiday season.

Thanks to everyone who supported Second Harvest North Central Food Bank this year. Happy Holidays!

Holiday Hunger

This week we are extremely busy preparing to bag up toys for over 1,800 children and fill 1,700 holiday food boxes over the weekend. Toys have been donated at many businesses and churches. The community has been generous with donations in order to provide a holiday meal plus several other meals for families in Itasca County and Hill City.

Difficult economic times means fewer toys have been donated than in the past. We will have enough for every child who has been referred to get at least one toy and a book, but that might be all we can do. Some years we have been able to give a toy, a stuffed animal and a book, or a toy and some stocking stuffers and a book. The community has been as generous as it can be. These are tough times for many of us. Some people who used to donate are now recipients.

When we planned the food for the food boxes in September, the economy was sagging but it hadn't collapsed yet. We planned for about a 15% increase in food needs. Now the 1,700 food boxes we are packing on Sunday will barely meet the need. We won't turn anyone away, but some might be referred to use the food shelf instead of receiving the holiday food box.

People are coming for help that never needed it before. They are ashamed and appalled to have to ask for food for their family. We are here to help them. But I worry about how we will help everyone who needs us next year. We can barely keep up with the need now. Where will the food and the money come from to feed all the new people who are hungry?

I'm hungry for something to hope for. Optimism is in short supply. Malaise about the future has affected almost everyone. But there is one bright spot that gives us hope - people really do care about their neighbors. During this season of sharing, we have overwhelming support from volunteers. Volunteers and donors keep us going.