North Minneaplis food drive feeds hundreds, more likely needed

With a year filled with new obstacles for families, food insecurity continues to be a big issue. To help, thousands of pounds of food were shared with families in North Minneapolis — but the turnout was so big, it’s clear more is needed for the community.

Let by NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center and Dakota Provisions, the effort would not have been possible without the help from other local organizations:

• Urban League Twin Cities
• Second Harvest Heartland
• HomeBase Minnesota
• Around the People
• MAD DADs of Minneapolis

The COVID-19 pandemic has made this year difficult to give — from a lack of production, economic hardships, to health concerns with people gathering. On a cold Saturday morning, while masked up, organizers filled and handed out boxes of food to hundreds of families in North Minneapolis.

“I just want people to help their friends, and their neighbors, and their community,” said Renee Robertson, senior marketing manager of Dakota Provisions.

“It’s extremely important regardless of what you’re eating, who you’re purchasing [it for] or whatnot. But support your community, support your grocers, support your neighbors,” Robertson said.

“We’re all in need,” she added before returning to the assembly line to fill more boxes.

The goal was to give out 20,000 pounds of food to as many as 400 families. Within an hour of the event starting, it was apparent there may have been more families than boxes, marking another event that highlights the need for community support through such a tumultuous year.