Pack the Capitol 2026

With just under two weeks to go in the 2026 state legislative session, Second Harvest Heartland held a food packing shift on the Capitol lawn as part of our second-annual “Pack the Capitol” event. Volunteers, food bank and food shelf staff, and legislators and legislative staff joined together to pack more than 800 food boxes to raise awareness about the acute need for state investment in hunger-relief following four consecutive years of rising—and record—demand for emergency food assistance.

“Minnesotans rely on food shelves to feed their families, and grocery prices keep going up. It is urgent that we invest in food shelves, food banks, and county support to hold back a worsening hunger crisis,” said Senate Assistant Majority Leader Liz Boldon (DFL-25), chief author of the Regional Food Bank Grant Program funding bill in the Senate.

Following state and federal cuts to food programs, a decline in corporate food donations, and changes to SNAP that will further increase demand for emergency food assistance across our state, this year’s “Pack the Capitol” highlighted the importance of the work food banks and food shelves do in delivering food to neighbors facing food insecurity.

“I started volunteering at Second Harvest Heartland by packing potatoes, and I was impressed by the scope and importance of the work they do, especially at a time when people are choosing between food, gas, and medicine,” Judy, a Second Harvest Heartland volunteer, said.

At the event, Second Harvest Heartland CEO Sarah Moberg joined Channel One Regional Food Bank Executive Director Virginia Witherspoon, PROP Executive Director Jenifer Loon, and staff and executives from food shelves across the state for a press conference calling for strengthened state investments in Minnesota’s hunger relief network.

“Our shared goal is that every household has the food they need to be healthy and stable. Without state-level support, it's not possible to address Minnesota's hunger crisis,” Sarah said.

While state lawmakers did ultimately approve $5 million in one-time funding for food banks to source and distribute food at no cost to food shelves and an additional $5 million in flexible funding for food shelves on the front lines, permanent increases are necessary for Minnesota’s hunger-relief network to be able to keep up with demand. This remains a priority for Second Harvest Heartland’s public affairs team for the 2027 legislative session.

You can help us secure this state funding, too! By joining our growing community of advocates today, you’ll receive timely policy updates and easy ways to message your lawmakers in support of strong anti-hunger solutions in our state. Sign up for updates here—and stay tuned for more ways you can help make hunger history in Minnesota!