This month’s equity resource recommendation is from former Tangletown board president, Pat, who currently serves on the Equity Committee:
A highly regarded theory proposed by Abraham Maslow explains human needs as a pyramid of goals, with the most basic needs at the base, which must be met to achieve higher ones. The first tier of the pyramid includes the survival necessities of food, air, water, sleep, and shelter, which remain prerequisite to any other goals in life, such as safety and security. Too many people lack these basics, in particular, food. The latest data suggests that 1 in 5 families in Minnesota are struggling to afford enough food. A lack of sufficient food harms physical and mental health, growth, behavior, agency, and hope.
A quick Google search points to multiple factors responsible for recent food insecurity .
- High food prices and general inflation making it difficult for low-income households to afford food.
- Extreme weather events that ruining crops and reducing food availability.
- The end of Pandemic Related Assistance (such as expanded food assistance and the Child Tax Credit) in the U.S. has directly contributed to rising food insecurity in 2023 and 2024.
- Disruptions to natural gas and shipping have decreased fertilizer production and caused price spikes in 2026, lowering crop yields.
- Low wages and unemployment remain significant contributors, particularly among Black and Hispanic households, and those with children
- Conflict and war destroying infrastructure, displacing populations, and severing supply chains.
Sources: Feeding America, WhyHunger, PBS News, American Public Health Association
Locally, the Metro Surge, which has recently lessened but not left us, has aggravated conditions for many vulnerable families in our community. It has taken a significant toll on those who are fearful of ICE attacks and indiscriminate detainment, and has added to struggles to meet the most basic needs.
If you are a data hound, these sites offer information on the current state of food insecurity and predicted trends:
- Food Security Dashboard (U of M): An interactive tool tracking food insecurity trends, projected needs, and mapping community food shelves in Minneapolis.
- Second Harvest Heartland: Provides a “Statewide Hunger Study” highlighting specific statistics on food insecurity rates, including impacts on children and seniors.
- The Food Group: Partners with state agencies to gather data on food shelf usage and publishes detailed reports on hunger statistics.
- Hunger Solutions Minnesota: Which has now joined The Food Group, operates a Food Shelf Database, providing data on food shelf visits, and hosts an interactive map to locate food resources.
- City of Minneapolis Food Resources: Offers information on city-level initiatives, including food shelf, meal programs, and SNAP enrollment (food stamps).
- Wilder Research: Provides studies on the impact of food security, offering insights into community well-being.
Hunger Solutions Minnesota, which works at the intersection of equity and access to food, suggests several ways people can help by donating time or money, participating in collective action and advocacy, and learning about and sharing information about the growing local and national problem of food insecurity. There are many other ways of participating listed on these sites. Contributing helps everyone to achieve a thriving city, state, and country. As Paul Wellstone said, “We all do better when we all do better.”
Tangletown Neighborhood Association’s Equity Committee is busy planning its annual food drive for Joyce Uptown Foodshelf, but the timing may differ from prior years. Stay tuned for details, and in the meantime, please consider donating food and personal care items during Joyce Uptown Foodshelf’s weekly drop-off hours on Fridays between 9 AM and noon.