Rural Food Shelves Awarded $100,000 in Grants from Initiative Foundation

Funding will help food shelves meet the immediate needs of food-insecure community members

The Initiative Foundation has awarded $100,000 in grants to 18 rural food shelves across Central Minnesota to help communities manage a surge in demand in the face of rising food costs.

The Initiative Foundation identified and partnered with some of the region’s smallest and most under-resourced food shelves—connecting directly with organizations where the need was greatest and support could make the most immediate difference.

“We saw the strain our smallest food shelves were under and knew we had to act,” said Amy Trombley, vice president of community at the Initiative Foundation. “These food shelves are essential lifelines in their communities, and this funding is designed to help them continue meeting urgent needs.”

The grants come at a time when food shelves are reporting a sharp increase in visitors, with many seeing new faces, including older adults living on fixed incomes. The organizations are seeing a drop-off in resources and support from state and national organizations. The grant will allow the nonprofits to purchase more dairy products and fresh produce...

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