The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign is a coming together of efforts throughout our entire state to provide food to over 300 food shelves throughout Minnesota. Each food shelf involved held their own food and fund drive with the help of their local businesses, schools, churches and community groups.
On top of their efforts, Minnesota FoodShare held a statewide food and fund drive where all of the proceeds are split between the 300 food shelves. So whether you gave to an individual food shelf, or a food drive or event hosted by the Minnesota FoodShare, your food or money was all going to the same place: food shelves in our state that will help feed Minnesotans in need.
Through the combined efforts of everyone involved, over $8 million and 5.2 million pounds of food were accumulated and will be distributed to the partnering food shelves. This food and money will go a long way. Many food shelves involved report that the March Campaign is their largest fundraiser of the year and that it brings in at least 50 percent of the resources that they will need to operate for the rest of the year. The Center for Philanthropy estimates that each dollar donated to a food shelf is able to leverage $4 worth of food. Minnesota FoodShare estimates that the $8 million raised this year will bring in over $30 million dollars worth of food.
Thank you to everyone who participated or donated in the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign. This success shows what happens when Minnesotans come together to help one another! Let’s continue this giving and keep it going all year long! For a list of great organizations that you could donate to, take a look at the Partners page on our website where you will find a list of all the members of the Minnesota Hunger Initiative.