Hunger is a problem. You are the solution.
What do the frontlines of hunger look like in Minnesota and North Dakota?
They often resemble the story below, submitted by a Salvation Army social worker:
A boy came to our food shelf asking for groceries. His mother had told him to stay home from school and make a trip to The Salvation Army so that his family could eat. The family had almost no food in their house. The young man told us, “The only thing I saw was cereal, but we have no milk.” We gave him as many groceries as he could carry home.
The statistics are just as sobering: About 560,000 people struggle with hunger in Minnesota and North Dakota, and one in nine kids do not have enough food to eat, according to Feeding America.
The Salvation Army Northern Division is fighting back, with 390,000 hot meals served and 69,000 bags of groceries distributed in 2019. We are a leader in hunger abatement, with 24 food shelves in Minnesota and North Dakota. Donate now.
These food programs are a blessing to people like Trish in southern Minnesota. Every so often, she has no choice but to visit the food shelf at The Salvation Army in Albert Lea.
“If it wasn’t for The Salvation Army, there are many nights my kids would have gone hungry,” she said.
Our food shelves prioritize healthy options because many families cannot afford to buy fruits, vegetables, and other fresh foods. Eating healthy costs about $1.50 more per day than eating unhealthy, according to a Harvard study. For a family of four, that equals $6 per day, or $180 per month.
“People won’t spend $6 on a pineapple when they can spend $6 on six boxes of mac and cheese,” said Salvation Army social worker Ana Gonzalez, who helps lead a distribution of fresh foods every Friday at the West 7th Salvation Army in St. Paul (pictured). “Most of our guests come here to supplement whatever food they cannot afford on their own.”
A single mother named Kenyana has been receiving fresh foods at the West 7th Salvation Army during the past year. She and her four kids, ages 7 to 16, appreciate the support.
“I most like getting the vegetables here – especially kale,” Kenyana said. “We can’t afford fresh food sometimes because it’s too expensive. There are a lot of people who come here who really need this.”
Get involved
Hunger is a problem in Minnesota and North Dakota, and you can be part of the solution by supporting The Salvation Army.
When you donate money, The Salvation Army maximizes your gift by buying in bulk. This stretches your dollar further, transforming your donation into more groceries, hot meals, and other support.
You can also give food directly. Simply stop by your nearest Salvation Army Worship and Service Center and drop off as many nonperishable food items as you’d like. We’ll make sure your donation ends up in the cupboards of hungry individuals and families.
You can also volunteer. Our food shelves need help sorting food donations, stocking shelves, and escorting families as they fill their grocery bags. Learn more about these opportunities and sign up to volunteer.