Although Minnesota FoodShare kicks off its 20th annual March Campaign to stock food shelves across the state tomorrow, FoodShare sees very little reason to celebrate the anniversary. Food shelves have seen a sudden upturn in clients this past year due to layoffs and a slumping economy: statewide, there were 1.32 million visits to Minnesota's food shelves in 2001. This is an increase of nearly 10 percent, the highest yearly increase in the past decade. Some food shelves statewide saw a 50 percent increase in clients in 2001. Due to the increased need, Minnesota FoodShare's Year 2002 goal is to raise 6 million combined pounds of food and dollars for the state's 261 food shelves.

"Although layoffs and the recession are part of why we've seen such an increase, we are still seeing an increase in seniors and working families seeking help at their local food shelves," says Sue Kainz, Minnesota FoodShare's March Campaign coordinator.

The average food shelf client makes around $8.36 cents an hour, and these low-wage workers are often the first to go when companies need to cut costs. Seniors on fixed incomes are fighting rising rent and prescription costs, and children still make up half of the hungry.

For twenty years, Minnesota FoodShare has worked hard to feed Minnesota's hungry. The first drive, in 1982, was a collaboration between the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC) and Pillsbury to raise food for struggling laid-off workers in the Iron Range. It was successful beyond their wildest dreams: Minnesotans raised more than a million pounds of food. GMCC decided to continue the drive annually for the entire state, and Minnesota FoodShare was born. WCCO AM Radio personalities Boone & Erickson helped to kick off that first food drive, and this year they have agreed to reprise their roles as honorary chairmen of the March Campaign for 2002.

Donations of food or cash to Minnesota FoodShare's March Campaign can be made at local food shelves, places of worship, any U.S. Bank branch office, or at the offices of WCCO AM Radio and WCCO TV. Cash donations may be sent to Minnesota FoodShare's office, or made online at www.gmcc.org/MFS. This year, online donations will be matched up to $50,000. All money received by Minnesota FoodShare during March will go directly to the purchase of food.

Minnesota FoodShare is a program of the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, co-sponsored by the MN Rabbinical Association, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of St. Paul and Minneapolis, Jewish Community Relations Council of MN and the Dakotas, MN Catholic Conference, MN Council of Churches, and the St. Paul Area Council of Churches.

MINNESOTA-FOODSHARE

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