Arrowhead region food shelves seeing increased demand

Second Harvest warehouse
Second Harvest food bank warehouse. Nov. 2007.
MPR Photo/Mark Zdechlik

Minn. state senator Tom Bakk of Cook says emergency food shelves in the Arrowhead region are seeing sharp increases in demand for help this winter.

Bakk says the increased need is likely a result of slow economic growth in the region, energy prices and home foreclosures.

He says people in rural areas have been especially hard hit by high gas and oil prices.

"They have the issue of having to commute to the grocery store, commute to the doctors appointments. They have some costs probably that people who live in bigger communities and regional centers don't have. Energy prices are a significant part of your budget," says Bakk.

Last week Bakk held a fundraiser for emergency food shelves and raised about $55,000. The money will be distributed to agencies across the Arrowhead.

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