CATH THAT WAS AWESOME.

LAST YEAR MORE MINNESOTANS VISITED FOOD SHELVES THAN ANY OTHER YEAR IN RECENT HISTORY.

THIS FOLLOWS A POST-PANDEMIC TREND OF RISING COSTS IN PART DUE TO INFLATION, OUTPACED RELIEF EFFORTS INTENDED TO OFFSET THEM.

THIS WEEK MINNESOTA BASED SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND, ONE OF THE LARGEST FOOD SHELVES N THE COUNTRY ANNOUNCED A PLAN TO CUT HUNGER IN THE STATE IN HALF BY 2030.

CEO ALLISON O'TOOLE IS HERE WITH MORE ON THE ORGANIZATION'S AMBITIOUS PLAN.

WELCOME BACK.

>> THANK YOU.

THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> Cathy: I THINK WE SHOULD TALK ABOUT THE PROBLEM BEFORE POTENTIAL SOLUTIONS.

ALL-TIME RECORD FOOD SHELVE IN MINNESOTA.

THIS IS WITH RECORD EMPLOYMENT, PROGRAMS IN PLACE, FREE SCHOOL LUNCHES, S.N.A.P., W.I.C.

ALL THOSE PRAYS.

WHAT'S GOING ON OUT ON THERE?

>> IT'S A COMPLEX ISSUE AND HAD A COMPLEX SET OF EVENTS.

SOME OF THOSE FEDERAL BENEFITS THAT WERE ACTIVE DURING THE PANDEMIC SUNSETTED EARLIER THIS YEAR.

AND THAT WAS HARD ON MINNESOTA FAMILIES ESPECIALLY AT A TIME WHEN GAS AND GROCERY PRICES ARE FLUCTUATING.

I READ IN THE PAPER, HEARD ON THE NEWS THIS MORNING THAT GAS IS GOING UP AGAIN AND THOSE LITTLE CHANGES MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

ALSO WAGES HAVEN'T KEPT UP WITH INFLATION.

SOME OF THOSE BIGGER HEADLINES ABOUT HOW WELL ESPECIALLY MINNESOTA IS DOING, REALLY IMPORTANT TO DOUBLE CLICK ON THIS BECAUSE SO MANY FAMILIES ARE STRUGGLING STILL.

>> Eric: YOU HOPE TO RAISE 150 MILLION WITHIN SIX YEARS.

WHAT'S THE GAME PLAN TO ATTACK THIS PROBLEM?

>> IT'S GOT THREE PILLARS.

AND THE RANGE OF FUND-RAISING IS PROBABLY 150 TO $250 MILLION.

AND THAT SIGNIFICANT INVESTMENT REFLECTS THE EDUCATION CENTER NORMTY OF THE ISSUE WE'RE FACING.

THREE PILLARS.

WE HAVE SUCH HIGH NEED RIGHT NOW WE HAVE TO REDUCE THAT NEED FIRST SO JUST REALLY INFUSING HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK WITH MORE FORWARD, GETTING THE RIGHT FOOD WHERE IT'S NEEDED MOST, USING DATA TO DRIVE OUR DECISIONS, USING AND WELCOMING THE COMMUNITY TO THE TABLE TO THINK THROUGH THOSE SOLUTIONS.

SECOND PILLAR IS TO PREVENT IT AND TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF IT SO IT DOESN'T HAPPEN IN THE FIRST PLACE AND THAT IS ABOUT, YOU KNOW, PROGRAMS LIKE S.N.A.P.

OTHERWISE FOOD STAMPS.

>> Eric: FOOD STAMPS.

THAT USE IS UP.

>> YEAH, AND THAT USE IS UP.

WE ARE INVESTING A LOT OF MONEY IN PUTTING SUPPORTS AND NAVIGATION IN PLACE.

SECOND HARVEST HEARTLAND CARE CENTER WHICH IS A CALL CENTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN CALL IN FOR HELP WITH THAT.

THAT PROVIDES STABILITY TO FAMILIES.

ONE OF OUR BIGGEST LEVERS IS POLICY CHANGE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO BE AT THE LEGISLATURE THIS -- IN A MATTER OF WEEKS HERE WITH SOME DIFFERENT ASKS THIS YEAR AND A BROADER COALITION TO HELP US GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS.

>> Cathy: ALLISON, HELP US OUT HERE.

WHAT'S THE ROLE OF SECOND HARVEST?

IF YOU ARE THE LARGEST FOOD BANK, WE UNDERSTAND YOU'RE PUSHING FOOD OUT TO THE FOOD SHELVES IN MINNESOTA.

BUT ARE YOU GOING TO BE THE COORDINATOR OF SOME OF THESE ANTIPOVERTY PROGRAMS IN A SENSE IF YOU'RE ASKING FOR THE MONEY?

>> YEAH, I THINK IT'S PROBABLY MORE LIKE WE'RE GOING TO WORK IN COLLABORATION WITH SOME OF THESE OTHER PROGRAMS.

OUR SWEET SPOT IS FOOD AND THE LOGISTICS BEHIND THE FOOD AND WE'RE KIND OF THAT BACKBONE OF THE HUNGER RELIEF NETWORK, SOURCING, REPACKING, DISTRIBUTING MILLIONS OF POUNDS OF FOOD EVERY YEAR FOR OUR COMMUNITY.

BUT WE ALSO KNOW IT'S BROADER THAN THAT AND WE HAVE TO GET TO THE ROOT CAUSES OF THIS ISSUE AND THAT'S AROUND AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE, ACCESS TO TRANSPORTATION SO YOU CAN HAVE ACCESS TO FOOD, AFFORDABLE HOUSING, THINGS LIKE THAT.

>> Eric: UPSTREAM THINGS THEY CALL IT.

>> YES, EXACTLY.

AND WHEN WE LOOK AT THE DATA WE'VE HAD LOTS OF -- WE'VE BEEN WORKING WITH ON THIS FOR A WHILE AND WHEN WHEN HE WE LOOK AT THE DATA THAT POLICY CHANGE MAKES THE BIGGEST DIFFERENCE.

IF AND IN MINNESOTA YOU MENTIONED FREE SCHOOL LUNCH AND BREAKFAST.

THE CHILD TAX CREDIT, THOSE ARE GAME-CHANGERS.

WE'RE SO GRATEFUL TO THE WALZ AND FLANAGAN ADMINISTRATION AND THE LEGISLATURE FOR THAT AND