Brainstorming Solutions in Greater Minnesota

As a part of our goal to Make Hunger History and cut hunger in half in Minnesota by 2030, Second Harvest Heartland is collaborating with key communities across the state to develop and grow programs that improve local food security. We identified six initial focus communities across our service area by looking at areas that have high rates of food insecurity and limited resources for neighbors experiencing hunger.  In order for new initiatives to be sustainable and best meet the community’s needs, we know the ideas and leadership must come from within the community. We start by engaging key community members including hunger relief programs and neighbors experiencing hunger or using existing services. This group identifies its own solutions and leads the programming while Second Harvest Heartland supports with funding, food deliveries, staff expertise, and other resources. 

St. James and Fairmont are two of these identified focus communities which have decided to work together because of their proximity. A recent meeting was held in downtown St. James, with hunger relief partners in both St. James and nearby Fairmont combining their knowledge and skills. Representatives from local food shelves, churches, schools, and social service programs attended the afternoon workshop, and collaborated to highlight some of the bigger challenges they face—while also celebrating the work that is already successful. While the two communities are approximately 30 miles from each other, this provided a great chance to learn from each other and collaborate on similar strategies. 

Listening sessions help Second Harvest Heartland understand the needs of the hunger relief network in specific communities.

“These meetings are a great way to establish trust and partnership,” says Angelica Klebsch, Second Harvest Heartland’s Community Partnerships and Investment Director. 

One of the biggest challenges in both Fairmont and St. James is making sure neighbors have transportation to the food shelves in each town. Other ideas, such as making neighbors more aware of existing services, were also discussed, with future meetings on the calendar planned to help assist in these issues. 

Hunger relief partners from St. James and Fairmont convened in downtown St. James to discuss their community needs.

Whatever Fairmont and St. James decide they need most to increase food access in their communities, Second Harvest Heartland is ready and excited to work with them to support their endeavors. 

“Second Harvest Heartland wants to be the convener for these meetings, but we also don’t know what people truly need for their communities,” says Char Graff, Second Harvest Heartland’s Rural Community Investments Manager. “It’s up to the individual communities to create these strategies, and we are here to help.”