U.S. Senate candidates Tina Smith and Jason Lewis debate

As the state's unemployment rates have increased, so have the number of Minnesotans struggling to put food on their tables.

Before the coronavirus pandemic and the economic fallout, about 10 percent of Minnesota households were food insecure. But advocates say that number has drastically grown in the past few months.

How are food shelves and other programs across the state stepping up to help? What is the long-term concerns if these needs continue?

, which is Minnesota’s largest food bank, serving more than 500,000 people each year. 

Sophia Lenarz-Coy is the executive director at 

, a New Hope-based nonprofit focused on fighting hunger and nourishing the community with culturally relevant food.

, a statewide student association that advocates on behalf of about 180,000 community and technical college students.

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Before the COVID-19 crisis, about 10 percent of Minnesota households were food insecure. But that number has drastically grown in the past few months. As the state's unemployment rates have increased, so have the number of Minnesotans struggling to put food on their tables. How are food shelves and other programs across the state stepping up to help? What is the long-term concerns if these needs continue?

MPR News with Angela Davis - Before the COVID-19 crisis, about 10 percent of Minnesota households were food insecure. But that number has drastically grown in the past few months. As the state's unemployment rates have increased, so have the number of Minnesotans struggling to put food on their tables. How are food shelves and other programs across the state stepping up to help? What is the long-term concerns if these needs continue?

Combating food insecurity during the pandemic

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