With food costs on the rise, United Way of Northeastern Minnesota (UWNEMN)’s Board of Directors recently approved an increase in the organization’s annual contribution to local food shelves across the region, donating $40,000 in total this month.
“Our board members are keenly aware that increasing costs are driving up both the number of people in our community accessing local food shelves as well as costs for the food shelves themselves,” said UWNEMN Executive Director Erin Shay. “We are proud to increase our support of these critical resources.”
Donations were sent this month to: Aurora-Biwabik Food Shelf, Bois Forte Food Shelf, Chisholm Food Shelf, Cook Community Food Shelf, Ely Food Shelf, Floodwood Food Shelf, Hibbing Salvation Army, Koochiching County Food Access, Lake of the Woods Food Shelf, Nashwauk Neighbors Helping Neighbors, Quad City Food Shelf, Tower Food Shelf, and Virginia Salvation Army.
The $40,000 was divided among the food shelves based on the number of people served by each. These gifts were intentionally made in the month of March in observance of Minnesota Foodshare Month when they are eligible for matching funds.