With benefits at risk, consider donating to food shelves

As we reported in our front page story, thousands of people across Dodge, Steele, and Waseca counties—all served by the MNPrairie health and human services agency—utilize some type of food benefit program.
Those benefits could disappear for families, children, and individuals starting in November, if Congress can’t pass a funding resolution and reopen the federal government.
Unfortunately, it seems neither side is willing to back down, and it’s becoming a real possibility that MNPrairie staff will soon have to break the news to individuals that their lifeline to nutritious food will be on hold.
This is devastating news that no one should take lightly.
Having enough money to put food on the table is a major issue. Times are tough for everyone, and many people are considered “working poor,” meaning they have jobs but don’t make enough money to pay for food and other necessities without help.
Others may be disabled or have other challenges that make it difficult for them to purchase food, which continues to get more expensive with inflation.
With the real risk of benefits not being there for folks next month, it is this newspaper’s hope that those who are more fortunate will continue to support their neighbors.
This can be done in many ways.
Many food pantries struggle to keep their shelves stocked. Now is a good time to consider donating to those organizations. This week, we published a brief on the Kasson American Legion beginning their “Operation Fill Our Food Shelves” drive, which could be a great event to take part in.
Or perhaps, you can find a more direct way to help than giving to food shelves.
Perhaps you know of a neighbor who uses food assistance programs and is concerned about how to put food on the table next month. Perhaps dropping off a bag of groceries or a gift card to one of the local grocery stores could go a long way in keeping community members’ bellies full and easing the anxiety.
We are all in this together. This isn’t Washington D.C. Neighbors, no matter how they plan to vote in the local elections, can help each other out.
We hope you will consider making a real difference in the communities we all love.