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Food-shelf and prepared-meal advocates urge more funding as DE1 includes modest food-security support
Summary
Advocates for food shelves, regional food banks and a medically tailored meals provider told the committee that need has risen sharply and state support is necessary; witnesses said DE1 includes helpful one-time funds but urged larger, sustained appropriations to meet rising demand.
Representatives of food shelves, regional food banks and medically tailored-meal providers testified in support of food-security items included in the DE1, but urged larger and continued state investment to keep pace with rising demand.
The Food Group and Channel One Regional Food Bank described record demand and supply challenges. "Between this February and last February, the weight of the inventory on hand fell 59 percent," Channel One's executive director, Virginia Witherspoon, said, adding that state support was critical to avoid turning people away.
Open Arms of Minnesota highlighted the Prepared Meals grant included in the DE1 and described how shipped meals reach people in rural areas and medically fragile clients who cannot prepare food themselves. Lisa Lane said the grant helped Open Arms ship meals to more than 100 clients across Greater Minnesota and provide weekly meals to hospital patients.
Nut graf: advocates said the DE1's one-time food-security funding will help immediately but warned that food shelves and medically tailored providers need continued resources to meet an ongoing hunger crisis.
Details
- Channel One reported that its distributed food rose year over year and that inventory on hand fell, a combination that strains regional distribution networks.
- The Food Group asked lawmakers to consider additional resources for the Minnesota Food Shelf Program and pointed to a 30 percent decline in donated federal commodity food as a driver of need.
- Open Arms said the Prepared Meals grant directly supports medically fragile and food‑insecure Minnesotans and cited outcomes such as improved treatment adherence and nutrition for patients with serious illnesses.
What lawmakers said
Committee members thanked witnesses for their testimony and noted the DE1 includes food-security line items; several chairs and members indicated they would review further funding options during the budget process.
Ending: Witnesses urged lawmakers to consider additional and sustained state funding to avoid shortfalls in Greater Minnesota food shelves and specialty meal programs.
