Yes, there are hungry people in Minnesota
Last week Minnesota State Senator Steve Drazkowski (R-District 20) raised eyebrows when he declared on the Senate floor that he had “yet to meet a person in Minnesota that is hungry.” He made the comment during debate prior to the vote on a bill to provide free lunches to all school students regardless of the parent’s financial condition.
During the debate there were many senators who opposed the bill, in fact, most of the Republicans in the Senate voted no. But the issue was not that there were no hungry kids in the state rather over the cost of the program and whether it should apply to all students.
The bill was later passed by both houses of the legislature and has been signed into law by Gov. Tim Walz.
The issue here is not whether or not the legislation is a good one. Those in favor have a good argument that every child has a right to have a nutritious meal during the school day whether their family can afford it or not. These people often make the argument that there is a stigma attached to having to apply for free or reduced meals for your children. When other students know that a classmate cannot pay for their lunch they may embarrass the student.
Providing free meals to all, as was done during the COVID-19 pandemic, can eliminate the issue of embarrassment.
On the other side, are the people who believe that free lunches should only be provided to those youngsters whose families cannot afford to pay for them. If your family has the means to pay, then you should pay, goes the reasoning. Some also are concerned about who will pay for those free meals. The federal government reimbursed school districts for the meals during the pandemic, but those funds are now gone. Yes, the opponents say, Minnesota has a surplus of money now but what will happen when that amount dwindles. Will the state reimburse the districts or will the costs fall on the taxpayers in the district.
As with most other legislation, reasonable people can disagree and present valid arguments.
But one saying they have never met a Minnesotan who is hungry is a step too far.
Ironically, the discussion about the free meals for all students and the senator’s comments come in March. The month designated as FoodShare Month in Minnesota.
For over 40 years, Minnesota FoodShare has been working to address food insecurity and poverty in our state. This year the 2023 March Campaign started February 27 and is continuing through April 9.
A few facts about hunger and food insecurity from Minnesota FoodShare:
In 2021, 9.3 percent of Minnesotans had incomes below the poverty line of $27,479 for a family of four. This number included 10.4 percent of Minnesota children.
During 2022, a record-breaking 5.5 million visits were made to food shelves in Minnesota, up nearly 50 percent from the 3.7 visits in 2021.
Minnesota’s charitable food system, including food shelves, food banks, meal programs etc., continues to run at capacity, and now is exacerbated by rising inflation and the end of various food and financial supports established during COVID-19.
Rising food insecurity is not confined to the Twin Cities and other metropolitan areas in the state.
Food shelves throughout Minnesota including here in Dodge and surrounding counties are seeing an increase in individuals and families needing help. Those seeking assistance include families, single people, and senior citizens. Many, if not most, of these individuals are working but still not able to make ends meet.
Minnesota ranks 39th in the nation in SNAP (formerly known as food stamps) access and 90 percent of SNAP recipients still experience food insecurity.
Food shelves are not the only organizations that people are going to for help.
Churches also commonly provide support, sometimes by donating to the food shelves and sometimes by sponsoring food pantries of their own. Numerous churches also have “backpack” programs that provide youngsters in need with food to help see them through the weekend.
There have been numerous fundraising efforts this month to raise money for food shelves including one next door in Owatonna.
The sad fact is that here, in the richest country in the world, there are still many people who do not have enough to eat.
Yes, reasonable people can disagree on how to solve the problems of food insecurity. But they cannot deny that it is a problem.
Whatever one thinks about the way the free school meals for all bill was presented and passed is not really the major issue. In this case, the ones who suffer are often the ones who are the most vulnerable — children.
Sorry senator, but food insecurity is a problem throughout the United States, even in Minnesota.