More Than 68,000 Residents Facing Hunger in Channel One Regional Food Bank’s 14-County Service Region as Donation Match Begins
I will never forget the sense of panic that I had when I saw how empty the shelves were at our local grocery stores in Rochester in April 2020. Unlike other families at that point, we actually had enough toilet paper. But, we didn't have any meat, zero eggs were left in the refrigerator, and with 5 people in the house 24/7, we were going through our cans of vegetables faster than I anticipated.
As I walked the aisles of the grocery store, I was shocked at the sight of the shelves. The bread aisle was completely empty. The meat area was extremely picked over. The only canned goods left on the shelf were food items I didn't even recognize. Zero vegetables were left in the frozen food section.
I went to the store with the hope that I would find food for my family. I left with 5 items.
We all went through this together. We remember what those empty shelves and carts looked like when we were masked and unrecognizable. We all felt these feelings of panic and uncertainty.
While many of us have attempted to block out that time from our minds, many in Southeast Minnesota are feeling it again.
The Crisis Happening Right Now in Southeast Minnesota
When I was a kid, money was extremely tight. While my parents did everything they could, the 80s were a very challenging time, and there was a time when many of our meals happened because of friends who gave us cans without labels from Land O'Lakes. No labels means exactly what it sounds like - you don't know what you are eating until you open the can.
Food. Every single human being needs this to survive.
Sadly, families in Southeast Minnesota are still wondering if they will have enough food the next time they need it.
Snapshot Of The Food Crisis in Southeast Minnesota Right Now
When you tell someone that you live in Rochester, Minnesota, the first thought is always "Mayo Clinic". Our town is known for world-class medical care, where about 1 million patients are treated each year.
What you don't think about is the 68,460 people in the region who are facing hunger. According to Channel One Regional Food Bank, that number includes 20,260 kids.
Unfortunately, families who visit food shelves in Channel One's 14-county region right now are leaving with less food than what they would have taken home 11 months ago. Here's why:
- 50% decrease in government food commodity and due to supply chain uncertainties
- 40% reduction in donated food from manufacturers
- recent SNAP crisis due to the month-long government shutdown, which led to 100 more people per day being helped by Channel One vs the average in past months
As the countdown to Christmas Day gets smaller, the need for those experiencing hunger is growing.
This crisis is not over, and we need extra support this month to help rebuild our supply and ensure people are not going without this holiday season.
- Channel One Regional Food Bank
Your Gift To Channel One Helps 2x As Many Neighbors This Month
Thanks to a generous match by Think Bank, your donation to Channel One Regional Food Bank will be matched up to $30,000!
With just a click, your $20 donation is doubled to $40, and a child in our area won't be going to bed with their tummy growling.
Your $10 donation turns into $20 for Channel One Regional Food Bank, and a senior citizen in our area will have access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy during cold and flu season.
Taking that $5 you could have spent on a coffee today and giving it to Channel One Regional Food Bank to help others now doubles it to $10. Because of your generosity, a mom in our area who usually skips her meal so her kids can eat, is getting a chance to eat tonight.
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