GRAND RAPIDS —“We think we need to meet. There needs to be more.”
That’s what the Pastor’s Prayer Fellowship, a group of local churches, told KOOTASCA Community Action in mid-October, as news broke about the potential suspension of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits.
The two organizations have been working together on the first Mary Jo Wimmer Harvest Food Drive, packing holiday boxes and meals to be distributed in November.
But sensing the growing need for food, KOOTASCA Executive Director Marta Carrigan said they sent out invites for an informal discussion to community members and other local organizations like Second Harvest Northland and Itasca County Health and Human Services.
They discussed how to share information the community should know at times like this, like how monetary donations are better than actual food for most food shelves because they get reduced wholesale prices, or how most churches’ community meals are open to everyone, regardless of their participation in faith-related events.
“I thought it was pretty incredible to show up and see the amount of people that had shown up to be a part of that conversation, knowing that it was pretty last minute and grassroots,” Carrigan said. “So, I think Grand Rapids and the greater Grand Rapids area is so fortunate to have that many people that are compelled to go and contribute to something.”
Northern Minnesota organizations are feeling the weight of food insecurity amid a challenging economy, changes to important federal programs and the ongoing government shutdown. November SNAP benefits for over 400,000 Minnesotans will be affected in some way if the shutdown continues.
It’s great to see the community mobilize, Carrigan said, and she knows the shutdown will have to end at some point.
“I think that for some people, that will be a sense of relief like, that it’s solved,” she said. “But here, as an agency that works with people in poverty, we know that hunger insecurity, the food deserts, access, transportation, especially [for] senior citizens — those were issues that were there before, and they’ll be there again even after SNAP is restored.”
Lakes Area Food Shelf in Pequot Lakes has seen unprecedented visitation numbers this month, Director Tammy Larsen said.
A year ago, the no-barrier food shelf served about 150 to 180 families a week. This year, it’s closer to 180 to 200. And a couple of weeks ago, 225 families came in.
At the same time, cuts to U.S. Department of Agriculture programs mean there’s less food available to order from the food bank.
“That’s challenging enough, right?” Larsen said. “But if your numbers are going up, and you have more mouths that you’re trying to feed, and you have less food? But the good news is, we have a very generous community.”
Rural communities’ ability to respond to increased need can vary greatly, depending on local resources and economics. Carrigan said KOOTASCA is fortunate to have support from local foundations like Grand Rapids-based Blandin and Northland in Duluth. But other organizations don’t have that extra help to weather difficult times.
She also said community support looks a little different everywhere. While food shelves typically prefer monetary donations, at a Koochiching County meeting similar to Itasca’s, organizations said food donations are better for them right now.
“It’s good for people to kind of figure out and source out, ‘What does my community need that I can do?’” Carrigan said.
“ ... I’m hopeful that through this and engaging in this that the community has learned more about hunger insecurity as a whole and about ways that we can continue to support that. Even after the more obvious part of the crisis has passed. Because those things are going to continue to exist. Especially in rural communities.”
She’s been worrying a lot about the layers and ripple effects of everything that’s happening.
The government shutdown has delayed the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program by at least a month, meaning as temperatures drop, families might not be able to heat their homes.
While KOOTASCA’s Head Start hasn’t been impacted, the shutdown may delay essential funding for other Northern Minnesota child care programs.
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care homelessness assistance program is scheduled to be eliminated, as Itasca County has a shortage of affordable housing.
Carrigan was emotional, thinking of the families who are in distress.
“And I worry for my staff because that takes a toll on them, too, to be wanting to help people to help people and not have all of the resources or answers or things that people need,” she said.
“ ... And I can’t help but point to the holidays coming and the extra that that places on people. The expectations for food and gifts and social activities and all of that. And I think that there’s both the financial impact, and I think it affects people’s emotional and mental health as well, to be navigating those things and those ripples.”
