Second Harvest Heartland Receives Massive Mac & Cheese Donation
Minnesota’s largest food bank, Second Harvest Heartland, received a massive donation of macaroni and cheese on Friday. The donation coincides with the end of an emergency program designed to help families in need.
“You know, a lot of people take a mac and cheese meal for granted, and you all recognize that that’s the difference between life and death for way too many people,” said Rep. Dean Phillips, (D) Minnesota, speaking at a news conference at Second Harvest Heartland in Brooklyn Park. “Certainly in our country and well beyond.”
Land O’Lakes delivered 40,000 pounds of macaroni and cheese to Second Harvest Friday morning.
The donation comes on the same day that the state’s emergency Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits end.
Some of the macaroni and cheese donated to Second Harvest by Land O’Lakes.
Those benefits first went into effect three years ago to help families offset the costs of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The end of the SNAP benefits means people receiving them will get about $90 less per month, according to Second Harvest CEO Allison O’Toole.
Officials here called for state and federal lawmakers to invest in hunger-fighting efforts
“We can and must do more, so that’s what today is about,” O’Toole said. “It’s highlighting not only a fabulous partner in Land O’Lakes, and a 40,000 pound donation of mac and cheese — which is just a staple for families — but also highlights the need in our community and a need for the legislature to step up.”
Second Harvest says it’s asking the state for an extra $10 million to help fund farm-to-food-shelf programs.
Related: As Milk Prices Rise, Second Harvest Heartland Receives Large Dairy Donation
