Matthew 25:35

It's time for the annual Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. Drop off donations at Faith - Friday, March 12 through Door 1 until 1:00; Sunday, March 14 Door 6 will be open until 11:30. Not only are snacks, crackers, and condiments requested, but also personal hygiene items. Now more than ever this ministry is an important way for Faith to join with others throughout Minnesota to address food insecurity and poverty.

• Food insecurities could rise to 13% due to the COVID pandemic. A record over 3.8 Million visits were made to food shelves during 2020.
• 9% of Minnesotans had incomes below the poverty line ($25,926 for a family of four) in 2020. This included 11% of Minnesota’s children.
• More than 400,000 Minnesotans receive nutrition benefits via SNAP each month. 71% of those served by SNAP are children, seniors and people with disabilities.
• Minnesota’s charitable food system (food shelves and food banks, meal programs, etc.) continues to run at capacity. The Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this, making it critical to focus on creating a more just and equitable food system that meets the needs of all Minnesotans.

Food security is “access by all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.”

Food insecurity means access to adequate food is inconsistent and limited by a lack of money and other resources throughout the year. Food insecure households report their diets to be of reduced quality, variety, or desirability and/or experience disrupted eating patterns and reduced food intake.

Equitable access to food means all individuals have “a voice in and access to a nourishing food system,” regardless of race, socioeconomic class, location, gender, and other social identities.

“Food justice is the concept that communities have the right to grow, sell, and eat healthy, affordable, culturally appropriate food whose production supports the well-being of the land, workers, and animals.” Food justice is based on the idea that “access to nourishing food is a basic human right.

We thank you for your continued support to help stock the shelves at Family Pathways in Forest Lake. 

If you have any questions, please reach out to Nicole Lindberg: