2,000 Minnesotans expected at Walk to End Hunger

More than 2,000 Minnesotans are expected to start their Thanksgiving morning by raising awareness and money to help fight hunger in the state.

The Walk to End Hunger at the Mall of America has raised nearly $900,000 since it started in 2008. The money supports the work of 12 hunger relief groups in the Twin Cities metro area.

There's still great need across the metro area, said Lori Kratcher, executive director of the Emergency Foodshelf Network, a Twin Cities food bank.

"We still see a lot of situational poverty, where people who never thought they'd have to go to a food shelf are visiting a food shelf to supply food for their family right now," Kratcher said. "We're still seeing that need. It's not decreasing. We're still seeing increases in monthly visits at food shelves all around the Twin Cities area."

Organizers hope the walk will raise $325,000 this year.