October 5, 2011 New Data Shows the Grim Reality of Hunger for Older Minnesotans
Minnesota Food HelpLine: 1-888-711-1151
Minneapolis (October 5, 2011) – Hunger-Free Minnesota (www.hungerfreemn.com) announced today new data showing a disturbing picture of Minnesota seniors who are going hungry because they don’t have enough money to buy food and still pay for other basic needs. With winter coming, and big heating bills, seniors will be making even tougher choices about where their limited dollars go.
The new data shows a rising need for senior food support: Minnesota has seen a 22% increase in senior households receiving food support from 2008 to 2010. Of the 88,000 seniors living below the poverty line, less than half accessed the Minnesota Food Support system. Many seniors don’t know they qualify for the Federal dollars.
“In 2010, the average grant for seniors who did access the program was $76 a month, a meaningful extension to a senior’s food budget,” said Dr. Stacey Stockdill, president of EnSearch,Inc., the organization that compiled the data. “It’s important that seniors and community members know this support is available. Enrolled seniors can shop at their regular grocery store with an Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card that transfers money to the store when they purchase their food.”
The reality of senior hunger in Minnesota may be surprising: Data shows that 90% of seniors using food support live alone. More than half the seniors in this group live with a disability. They are likely to have a high school education, and they may have some college education as well. A typical Minnesota senior receiving food support is a U.S. citizen, white, age 69, and widowed or divorced.
Ellie Lucas, chief campaign officer for Hunger-Free Minnesota, says the food program is important to keeping seniors healthy and independent. “Seniors who are hungry can be out of sight and out of mind. But our data shows they are in our midst, and too many of them are not getting the help they need.”
Changes to state regulations have made it easier to apply. The Minnesota Food HelpLine, 1-888-711-1151, is a good place to start with questions about eligibility or the enrollment process.
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Hunger-Free Minnesota is coalition of community leaders and citizens, nonprofit agencies, food banks, food shelves and corporate partners including General Mills, Cargill, Hormel Foods, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, and others. For more information, visit www.hungerfreemn.org/.
EDITOR’S NOTE: Interviews available. For Hunger-Free Minnesota (to reach Ellie Lucas/Judy Monn or Stacey Stockdill)
Contact Joanne Henry at jhenry@henryschafer.com or 612.843.2142
For Minnesota regional food bank or food shelf contacts:
• Crookston, North Country Food Bank, Susie Novak, executive director, 218-281-7356.
• Duluth, Second Harvest Northern Lakes Food Bank, Shaye Moris, executive director, 218-727-5633, Ext. 113.
• Grand Rapids, Second Harvest North Central Food Bank, Sue Estee, executive director, 218-326-4420.
• Moorhead/Fargo, Great Plains Food Bank, Steve Sellent, program director, 701-232-6219.
• Rochester, Channel One, Inc. Food Bank And Food Shelf, Jennifer Woodford, media, donor and client relations, 507-424-1721.
• Twin Cities and Mankato: Second Harvest Heartland, Rob Zeaske, executive director, 651-484-5117 or Patty Gibbs 651.253.7302
• Hunger-Free Minnesota, Ellie Lucas, chief campaign director, Or Judy Monn, communications director, 651-209-7936.
• EnSearch Inc., Dr. Stacey Stockdill, expert on the Hunger-Free Minnesota research data, 763-521-7571.
