Child Food Insecurity Hits 25% of MN Households
## Minnesota Faces Growing Food Insecurity Crisis

A new survey reveals a stark reality about food insecurity in Minnesota: one-quarter of households with children lack consistent access to enough food. This alarming statistic comes from a first-of-its-kind statewide survey conducted by Second Harvest Heartland, a nonprofit hunger relief organization, in collaboration with Wilder Research. The research, released on January 29, 2025, paints a broader picture of food insecurity across the state, with 19% of all Minnesota households affected.

While the majority of food-insecure families manage to obtain enough food through emergency food assistance programs – including food shelves and government initiatives like SNAP – the situation remains critical. The survey highlights that 5% of households still struggle to acquire sufficient food even with this assistance, and a further 2% lack access to both adequate food and support programs.

The increasing reliance on food banks underscores the severity of the problem. Food shelf visits reached a record high of 7.5 million in 2023, and while the final 2024 figures are pending, the upward trend continues. This escalating demand has prompted hunger relief organizations to request additional state funding to address the crisis. However, the request comes at a time of budgetary constraints, as state lawmakers and Governor Tim Walz grapple with a looming deficit and explore cost-cutting measures.

Second Harvest Heartland CEO Allison O’Toole emphasized the urgency of the situation in November, stating, “Hunger doesn’t discriminate by political party or geography, and addressing it head-on should be something that both parties can rally behind next year and in the years ahead. The growth in demand we are experiencing is unsustainable.” The need for a comprehensive and bipartisan approach to tackle this growing crisis is clear. The future of food security in Minnesota hinges on effective action and sufficient funding to support those struggling to put food on the table.

(This section below is metadata and attribution information, not part of the rewritten article):

*This article was originally published by the Minnesota Reformer on January 29, 2025, by Madison McVan. The Minnesota Reformer is a non-profit news organization.*

*The article is licensed under Creative Commons BY-NC-ND 4.0. Please see the original article for full republishing guidelines.*

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