Will Channel One and those who rely on it keep food on the table?
Dear Concerned,
By "DOGE" you, of course, refer to the Department of Government Efficiency.
Channel One can continue its mission if a couple of things happen. One would be for the federal government to reinstate the Local Food Purchase Assistance program, which funds the purchase of food from local farmers.
On that front, there's good news. Jessica Sund, director of development and communications for Channel One Regional Food Bank, said, "The LFPA funding has been released for the year, and we will be able to spend the rest of the grant."
The second option would be for the state of Minnesota to fund a similar program to help keep local food on Channel One's shelves. That was a discussion held this week in St. Paul.
While that all sounds like good news, it doesn't mean Channel One is out of the woods when it comes to conquering hunger in the region.
Regional food shelf visits — Channel One provides the food to food shelves in 16 counties across southern Minnesota and southwestern Wisconsin — are up 32% from 2023. That means more people are relying on Channel One to keep hunger at bay.
A big problem over the last few years has been inflation's impact on food prices. Sund noted that some staples — eggs, meat and cooking oils, for example — are all items that are facing higher prices both at local grocery stores and to purchase for Channel One, so if those prices come down, it'll be a big help.
How can we keep shelves at Channel One and its affiliated food pantries stocked? The community as a whole can donate monetarily to Channel One, which is a major source of revenue for the nonprofit. You can donate via the organization's website, helpingfeedpeople.org.
Sund said, "The community has definitely chipped in to help us ensure we are able to meet the rising need and inflation. I am always so appreciative and inspired by how our community supports each other."
While more money is always a plus, Sund noted that falling food prices could also benefit Channel One, helping stretch its food-buying dollars. "If prices come down that will not only help Channel One, but it will help those who are turning to us for help," she noted.
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