Economic pressures strain Kasson Food Shelf

The Kasson Food Shelf is feeling the pressure of rising demand and a tightening food supply, reflecting a broader trend across Minnesota as food shelves statewide grapple with economic strain and federal funding cuts.
“We have certainly seen changes in the realm of food,” Kasson Food Shelf Manager Jami Morris said. “Right now, our food supply has slowed down quite a bit.”
Morris said the slowdown is likely not due to tariffs, as most of their food is sourced domestically.
“We receive food from local donations, our food bank, which includes items from the federal government’s TEFAP program, and make purchases with grant funding and community support,” she said.
Across Minnesota, food shelves are reporting similar issues. In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture canceled nearly half of its scheduled food deliveries to the state under the Commodity Credit Corporation, significantly reducing the amount of food available to local programs. TEFAP, which supplies about 70% of food distributed through Minnesota’s food shelf network, has also seen disruptions.
“It is possible that the federal funding cuts that we have seen in so many programs are having an impact on the food supply,” Morris said.
Even as supply slows, the need continues to grow.
“The supply of food may be down, but the cost and need for food assistance continues to rise right along with the increased costs of living, from groceries to gas and utilities to rent,” she said.
Morris noted that the food shelf is also seeing more requests for help with housing and transportation.
“With all of the increases, we are seeing a greater need for rental and housing assistance and even vehicle repair assistance,” Morris said.
Despite the challenges, community support remains strong.
“Thankfully, we have not seen a decrease in volunteer support,” she said. “Monetary and food donations have decreased somewhat, which I am speculating goes along with the rising costs for all of us. We still have a great and supportive community that surrounds us.”
To help boost support during this crucial time, the Kasson Food Shelf is participating in the Open Your Heart Challenge, which runs from July 1-31. During this time, the food shelf will receive additional grant funding for every monetary donation received, making it an impactful time for community members to contribute.
Morris said U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar recently visited the facility to observe the impact firsthand.
“She was able to see firsthand the impact we are experiencing with the decrease in food supply,” she said.