Demand is up, supplies are down at food shelves statewide

Some people who rely on food shelves may not be able to get the help they need this season. Demand for food is up, and supply is down. Around the state, some food shelves say they're near a crisis.

Across the state, demand for food is almost twice what it was last year at this time.

One reason for that rise is the economy: Food costs more these days, and so does fuel. Paychecks aren't growing enough to keep up. And many Minnesotans are dealing with job losses.

Susan Freeman directs a food shelf called VEAP, Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People, in Bloomington Minnesota. She says many families find themselves in a bind when there is an unexpected illness or job loss:

"Coming back from a crisis today, coming back from a financial set back in today's world is so much harder than it was even three years ago," she says. "That's what we're seeing…. we're seeing people almost in a house of cards… we're seeing people who didn't even have enough money to get debt."

In Bloomington, people who are using the food shelf every week might be people who have owned their own homes for 20 years. When a health crisis or job loss hits, they can't bounce back.

And while demand is up, supply is down. The federal government has less surplus food to give to food banks this year. The government didn't have to buy up as much surplus food because farmers were able to sell more of their crops this year.

Another reason that food shelves are unusually short of money is that the federal farm bill is stalled. The Farm Bill, which provides money to food pantries and soup kitchens, would also increase food stamp benefits. Right now food stamps allow a person one dollar per meal per day. Check out the Food Stamp Challenge to see what living on food stamps is like right now.

Second Harvest Heartland reports that in the seven county metro area, there were 28,000 visit by families to food shelves in October 2006. In October 2007, there were 31,000 visits. That's a 9% increase.

In Newport/St.Paul Park Minnesota, there's a large food shelf called "Friends in Need."
More people in the community are finding out about the resource and using the food shelf to supplement their own grocery shopping monthly and sometimes weekly.

I spoke to a woman named Tania, a mom of three kids under seven. Her husband works full time, but last summer he was out of work for seven weeks after a dirt bike accident. She turned to the food shelf. Her "shopping" at the food shelf can keep the family fed for at least two weeks, and sometimes a whole month.

The kids think that she gets the food at a regular store, and she has been hesitant to let them know otherwise. One of her daughters insisted that they give food to the food shelf in a recent school drive. Tania was happy to get food out of her own cupboards to donate, and says that as soon as they are back on their feet she really wants to give back to the food shelf regularly, and to honor the volunteers who have supported her so cheerfully during this time.

The shortage of food at food banks across the country was reported today in The New York Times as "a critical shortage." A food bank is the "store" which supplies food shelves.

Here in the Twin Cities, private donations are currently keeping pace with need for area food shelves. But because of high demand, people are encouraged to donate generously. On the Iron Range, more food is needed. Channel One in Rochester reports a need, as does Litchfield.

Donations of food are wonderful, say area food shelf directors. Kids love to work with their club or school to pile up canned and boxed goods and get their parents to drive them to their local food shelf.

But donations of money go twice as far.

Food shelf directors say that monetary donations are used at places like the Second Harvest Heartland, a food bank. Because of bulk pricing, food shelves can buy two to three cans of soup for the cost of one can of soup a consumer donates. However, many children appreciate working on food drives where they actually see the food accumulate and deliver it to the food shelf.

If you're attending The Holidazzle Parade this season, consider bringing canned goods or monetary donations for area food shelves!

thanks for this story. we need to help food shelves all year long - consider making it a part of your routine at the grocery store or coop.

Thanks for your comment, Betty. I was struck by how many people need food shelves to supplement their groceries. It's important to donate food and money to food shelves at all times of the year.