As we close out 2024 and look ahead to the new year, I am struck that we continue to live through unprecedented times. Unprecedented. Wasn’t that the most overused buzzword of 2020? And yet I use it now to reflect on this past year as well.
When we look at food needs across our state, we see numbers continuing to increase:
- In 2023, Minnesota recorded more than 7.5 million food shelf visits. This broke 2022’s record by more than 2 million visits — a more than 30% increase.
- More Minnesotans also received Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds in 2023 than in any year since 2016.
While this trend can seem daunting, I also see every day the powerful ways our communities are coming together to meet the moment. Because of your continued support, the power of our community is strong. With your help, this year The Food Group:
- Shared 7,017,999 meals across Minnesota and Wisconsin.
- Expanded to support food shelves and anti-hunger policy work statewide through our joining forces with Hunger Solutions.
- Purchased two new propane-powered school buses for our Twin Cities Mobile Market program, lessening our carbon footprint and improving grocery access for neighborhoods that don’t currently have it.
- Piloted an agrisolar farm, expanding land access opportunities for emerging farmers in partnership with US Solar.
- Provided 8,421,600 pounds of high-quality, nourishing and culturally familiar foods to area food shelves, with an emphasis on foods that are locally grown right here in our state.
As we prepare for the year ahead, I’m excited to be bringing policy work closer to our on-the-ground programs as the result of our combining forces with Hunger Solutions, as this only amplifies both areas of our work. The Hunger Solutions team has a wealth of experience in statewide programming and providing grant funding to food shelves all over the state. They also bring with them the Minnesota Food Helpline and partnerships with health care organizations such as Fairview Health Services and Health Partners. In combining the strengths of both teams, we are better suited to adapt to the changing needs in our communities and nimbly respond to our shared partners.
A big theme for The Food Group this past year has been climate-smart work and sustainable agriculture practices. We believe it’s important for organizations like ours to participate in this kind of work because food systems and climate work are inherently linked, and farmers see the impacts of climate change first-hand in their fields. We need to do all we can to lessen these impacts, and by doing so we can improve our food system while helping farmers prepare for the future.
When I think back on 2024 and look ahead to next year’s challenges, I find myself incredibly grateful to know we can count on the steadfast support of all our community members to meet whatever comes next. Thank you again for your dedication, whether it’s been through monetary giving, volunteering, community partnership, or simply helping us get the word out about The Food Group. All of it has an impact.
With gratitude,
Sophia Lenarz-Coy
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