Sophia Lenarz-Coy

people are working incredibly hard, sometimes more than one job at a time. But we've just set up certain contexts in our economy that means that food is just still not accessible. And so, you know, we do a lot to keep telling that story of how important those programs are.

people are working incredibly hard, sometimes more than one job at a time. But we've just set up certain contexts in our economy that means that food is just still not accessible. And so, you know, we do a lot to keep telling that story of how important those programs are.

And I think that's something that everyone can do, whether you're super familiar with the issue of food insecurity or not, just acknowledging that it is a real thing and that we have an obligation as a I think, as a country to just make sure folks have that basic need supported and covered.

And I think that's something that everyone can do, whether you're super familiar with the issue of food insecurity or not, just acknowledging that it is a real thing and that we have an obligation as a I think, as a country to just make sure folks have that basic need supported and covered.

So those are the big ones. And, you know, there's always an opportunity to expand SNAP, especially make it, you know, increase the minimum benefits. Right. All of those things. Hard to do politically. SNAP is part of the farm bill and the farm bill tends to be the piece of congressional legislation that never gets done on time. So that seems to be on track to also be true to this coming farm bill.

So those are the big ones. And, you know, there's always an opportunity to expand SNAP, especially make it, you know, increase the minimum benefits. Right. All of those things. Hard to do politically. SNAP is part of the farm bill and the farm bill tends to be the piece of congressional legislation that never gets done on time. So that seems to be on track to also be true to this coming farm bill.

Yeah, so the Minnesota Food Helpline has a great find help map. And you can enter your zip code and it will give you lots of different resources from farmers markets to food shelves to the county office to get assistance with a SNAP application. So that's a really great resource if people are looking for somewhere in their local community they can go.

Yeah, so the Minnesota Food Helpline has a great find help map. And you can enter your zip code and it will give you lots of different resources from farmers markets to food shelves to the county office to get assistance with a SNAP application. So that's a really great resource if people are looking for somewhere in their local community they can go.

And then the other thing I would say is people, all those groups, including the food group, are also always looking for volunteers. So there might be times you need to know how to get help for either yourself or for someone or that you want to engage in volunteering.

And then the other thing I would say is people, all those groups, including the food group, are also always looking for volunteers. So there might be times you need to know how to get help for either yourself or for someone or that you want to engage in volunteering.

Because the truth is, this whole kind of system really operates off of volunteers pitching in and helping make the services all be available.

Because the truth is, this whole kind of system really operates off of volunteers pitching in and helping make the services all be available.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah, I think food help is an option. I think, you know, in Minnesota, we've got the Minnesota Food Helpline. So that's both online. But then if you call, someone will walk you through all these resources. I think many county offices, right, will walk you through services, sometimes United Way. in different communities has a hotline.

Yeah, I think food help is an option. I think, you know, in Minnesota, we've got the Minnesota Food Helpline. So that's both online. But then if you call, someone will walk you through all these resources. I think many county offices, right, will walk you through services, sometimes United Way. in different communities has a hotline.

So it really is kind of finding that social service kind of navigator connector because it is overwhelming. And, you know, I think the other thing to remember is for some people, it's just a really brief moment in time that they're needing help, right? So then you might be going to go to a couple of food shelves or, you know, a hot meal program.

So it really is kind of finding that social service kind of navigator connector because it is overwhelming. And, you know, I think the other thing to remember is for some people, it's just a really brief moment in time that they're needing help, right? So then you might be going to go to a couple of food shelves or, you know, a hot meal program.

For other people, it's really a change in their life that's going to probably get them into a

For other people, it's really a change in their life that's going to probably get them into a