Minnesota to use $12M in funding to combat hunger amid COVID-19

Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan on Wednesday announced $12 million in funding to help combat hunger in Minnesota amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

The state said the funding will support about 300 food shelves and seven food banks in Minnesota.

According to Walz, about 300,000 Minnesotans have visited food shelves each month since the pandemic began, which is an increase of about 30% compared to normal.

The funding is coming from the federal CARES Act and has been approved by the Legislative Advisory Commission.

Walz’s office said other efforts to ensure access to food include:

• Expanding community-based meal access for children, youth and adults experiencing increased food insecurity due to the pandemic,
• Providing food assistance and essential products to about 27,000 members of tribal nations and urban Indian communities experiencing adverse health and economic impacts of COVID-19,
• Using COVID-response waivers from the U.S. Department of Agriculture to implement alternative mechanisms to get food to people in need, including elimination of paperwork, in-person meetings and other requirements that would be difficult or impossible to meet under social distancing restrictions.

You can find information on food assistance resources here. Minnesotans can also fill out a Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) application at ApplyMN.dhs.mn.gov and apply for P-EBT benefits here.