Food assistance program to lose Target funding

A local food assistance program for students and their families is losing its funding.

"Meals For Minds," run by Second Harvest Heartland, makes monthly grocery deliveries to 11 Twin Cities schools.

Target Corporation, which funds the program in 44 cities across the nation, is ending its support in the Twin Cities at the end of the year.

Spokeswoman Kristy Welker said the schools did not meet Target's goal participation rates.

"Target remains committed to helping solve childhood hunger and continuing a partnership with Second Harvest to serve more of those who are hungry with a greater impact. So really the goal of transitioning this program is to increase the number of students served," Welker said.

Target required that a minimum of 300 students were enrolled in Meals for Minds per school, and that schools maintained a participation rate of at least 50 percent each semester.

In 2013 Target spent more than $1 million in Minnesota on a variety of food assistance programs.