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Committee lays over $1 million proposal to support Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches' March food campaign
Summary
House File 19-26 would provide a one-time $1 million appropriation to support the Minnesota Food Share March campaign run by the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, which backs 285 food shelves statewide; the committee laid the bill over after testimony on local food-shelf reliance.
The committee laid over House File 19-26, which would provide a one-time $1 million appropriation to the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches (GMCC) to support the Minnesota Food Share March campaign and the network of food shelves it helps coordinate.
Representative Mahamud said GMCC has mobilized statewide support for 43 years through the March campaign and that recent declines in private contributions have strained operations for participating food shelves. Adrienne Dorn, GMCC's president and executive director, said the campaign supports 285 food shelves statewide and historically passes 100 percent of funds raised to participating sites according to a proportional match formula.
Christopher Anderson, executive director of Western Communities Action Network (WE CAN), testified that in his service area roughly one-third of donated food in recent years has come from the March campaign and that rising food costs have increased pressure on food shelf operations.
Representative Mahamud moved that House File 19-26 be laid over for possible inclusion; the committee approved the motion and laid the bill over.
Testimony emphasized the campaign's flexibility for local shelves (funds can pay for equipment, repairs and food) and the need for an infusion of operating support to reengage business and private sponsors. The bill was laid over for possible inclusion in the omnibus process.
