Lt. Gov. Flanagan Visits Brooklyn Park to Highlight Food Insecurity
Rising food prices and supply-chain issues are affecting not only consumers, but local food shelves too. Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan visited Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park to draw attention to food insecurity.
“We know the need for food security is something that families struggle with year-round and so we’re just here to lift up the good work that is happening here,” said Flanagan.
The lieutenant governor helped pack potatoes and took a brief tour of the Second Harvest Heartland warehouse. Holiday staples like turkey and pumpkins could be hard to come by this year. Rising food prices and supply-chain issues are widespread and affecting consumers. Those same issues are impacting food banks like Second Harvest and the people they serve.
“This has been going on for over a year, the ups and downs and tightening of the supply chain, so we’re getting pretty good at it,” said Allison O’Toole, CEO of Second Harvest Heartland. “I think realistically it will impact the variety of food we have available but we have the best team in town and we’re going to source like crazy to make sure people have the food they know and love.”
O’Toole says 500,000 Minnesotans face hunger challenges right now and that includes 200,000 children. Communities of color are at least twice as likely to experience food insecurity. People can apply for benefits here.
Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan during Monday’s visit.
See also: Second Harvest Heartland Hosts Discussion on Racial Hunger Divide
