Increase the availability of food in Minnesota by increasing funding for food banks to enable them to reach more people.

 

According to the MN Department of Health, Minnesota is ranked the 7th worst in the nation for the share of residents

with access to healthy foods. This is due to low participation in national benefits such as SNAP, large food deserts in

rural areas, and income-barriers. By increasing the funding for food banks, it will ensure that more people facing

food-insecurity will have help.

 

Food insecurity is an increasingly prevalent issue, especially with the government shut down. In this shut down,

millions of Americans who rely on SNAP benefits no longer receive these benefits. However, in the state of Minnesota

these benefits have been restored. This event showed how fragile our food system is, in both the nation and our state.

With the decreasing food benefits, the strain on local food shelves and regional food banks will increase. Food banks

increase food access and fill gaps when social protections are lacking or absent. Each county (variably) should have 1

food bank per 70 food-insecure households. Counties with less than 70 food insecure-households should establish food

pantries from the food bank funding, and can team with nearby counties to ensure the food banks supply the pantries with

food.

 

Food desert- an area that has limited or no access to healthy and affordable food, typically within 10 miles for rural

areas, and 1 mile for urban areas.

SNAP benefits- Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, provides food-purchasing assistance to low-income individuals

and families to help them buy nutritious food

Food bank- a non-profit organization that collects, stores, and distributes food to those in need

Food pantry- a community service that distributes free food and other essential items to people facing hunger

 

Take 1% of Capital Cash & Projects spending, which will amount to: $2,900,000. By moving this money to funding food

banks, it will help provide at least 9 million meals to people in need. This bill will be enforced/ funded by the Human

Services agency.

 

Counties that don't establish a sufficient number of food banks to support their population will experience a 2% raise

in property taxes. This money will either go to support food banks in neighboring counties, or ensure that food banks

are established and properly supported.

 

This should be effective by 2/1/26, when people will likely rely on food banks and local food options to help get them

through the off-growing season.