Photos: Hunger in Kanabec County

Kevin Altman
Kevin Altman, 53, of Brook Park, Minn. relaxed in the yard with his four boys -- Dustin, 10, Hunter, 12, Collin, 15 and Tristan, 9 -- on Wednesday, August 10, 2011. One week later, Altman was found dead, according to family members. Altman's mother-in-law, Juanita Helmbrecht, said that Altman committed suicide. Altman was a plumber, but struggled to work after a car accident several years ago. He stayed home to care for his children while his wife, Tina, worked at Minpack, a manufacturing plant in Pine City, Minn. He said she struggled to consistently get enough hours while he received disability payments for the past seven years. The family uses the food shelf four to five times a year when unexpected bills strain their finances. A dedicated father, Altman coached baseball and football and proudly said in an interview that his four boys are A and B students.
MPR Photo/Caroline Yang