MANKATO — With 2024 as a historic year for food insecurity in the state, food pantry clients struggling to stock their kitchens also found emergency pantries’ cupboards looking a bit bare.
When the cost of one food staple rose sharply, St. Peter Area Food Shelf Manager Cindy Favre faced a budget decision she did not like.
“We usually give two dozen eggs to larger families, but we had to cut that down to one dozen,” Favre said.
This year is starting out with more hope that emergency pantries will be able to stock more food. Gov. Tim Walz announced Wednesday the availability of $5.5 million in new funding for Minnesota food shelves.
The hope is that pantry customers won’t feel the need to choose between buying groceries and paying bills.
“We’re relieving a strain on family pocketbooks and ensuring a stable supply of healthy food to meet Minnesotans’ needs,” said the release from Walz’s office announcing the financial boost awarded through the Minnesota Department of Agriculture.
“The funds will help food shelves and pantries provide more much-needed protein and produce,” said Sophia Lenarz-Coy, executive director of the Minnesota Food Group.
Her hunger-relief organization, along with Second Harvest Heartland and other partners in the state, have been tasked with making food purchases using the new funds.
“At least half of the funds will be go to local producers,” Lenarz-Coy said.
“We will distribute the food and get it in the hands of those that need it most,” said Mike Stephenson, director of communications for Second Harvest Heartland.
“We have already started sending food to communities,” he said.
Minnesota food shelves reached an all-time high of 9 million visits in 2024, according to recent Minnesota Food Group reports.
Favre’s organization has discovered its January orders are less costly than previous orders. Second Harvest has reduced prices for some items it supplies.
“And some of the food is now free,” she said.
Lenarz-Coy said there is no application process for pantries to be eligible for food purchased with the new funds.
“They don’t have to do anything; they will just receive the food.”