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Oct 29, 2009 6:46 pm US/Central
Minn. Food Giants Team Up to Fight Hunger
GOLDEN VALLEY (WCCO) ―
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To help encourage more volunteerism, food donations and to find permanent solutions to hunger, General Mills, Cargill and Land 'O Lakes are teaming up.
CBS
The economic problems facing Minnesota are adding more fuel to the growing problem of hunger. Workers at Minnesota's food shelves said demand has skyrocketed this year, as more bread winners find themselves out of work.
As the recession hit rock bottom, more than 500 families in the Golden Valley area alone were forced to feed their hunger at a local food shelf. They now depend on the well stocked shelves of PRISM. The acronym stands for People Responding in Social Ministry, a social service agency to assist needy families in Golden Valley, New Hope, Robbinsdale and Crystal.
"I can't work right now so nothing else I could do," said Jason Beatt.
About a year ago, Beatt found himself both unemployed and disabled with a serious back injury. He also has two elementary aged boys to feed as well. He said the food shelf operated by PRISM is his saving grace.
He said that he doesn't know how he'd get by without it, adding, "the food shelf and disability, I get disability from the state but it isn't much. It doesn't pay the bills."
As the economy worsened, demand at area food shelves has soared, up 43 percent so far this year.
While churches, companies and other groups help keep food donations coming in, there is also a growing need for volunteers.
PRISM officials said they will need about 300 volunteers to help stock the shelves and distribute that food. Candy McDonald is on a constant search to find people who are willing to donate their time.
"Volunteers are the backbone of this organization, we wouldn't be open if it wasn't for the volunteers," McDonald explained.
To help encourage more volunteerism, food donations and to find permanent solutions to hunger, General Mills, Cargill and Land 'O Lakes are teaming up.
It is an unprecedented corporate effort to focus their resources on helping solve a social ill. The three food titans will sponsor a summit and public forum, to tackle hunger head on.
General Mills' Chairman and CEO Ken Powell said, "that's really the goal of the summit, to bring everybody together to coordinate our efforts better. So, we just think this is a great opportunity to increase the effectiveness of this effort in our community."
The summit will take place Nov. 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at General Mills Golden Valley headquarters. Because space is limited reservations to the event are required through
HungerForum.org.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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