Olmsted County Board Approves Massive Donation to Channel One Food Bank Amid Gov’t Shutdown

Rochester, MN (KROC-AM News)- The Olmsted County Board of Commissioners approved a six-figure donation to a local food bank amid the ongoing federal government shutdown. 

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A news release issued by the county Wednesday morning says the one-time donation will provide “temporary local support for residents who may lose access to critical federal benefits in November.” 

Officials are anticipating that SNAP and Minnesota Family Investment Program benefits will not be issued next month due to funding shortages caused by the federal government shutdown. 

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Olmsted County Commissioners Approve $200,000 Donation to Channel One Food Bank To Cover Assistance Funds Suspended by Gov't Shutdown

On Tuesday the board members approved making a $200,000 donation to Rochester-based Channel One Food Bank to assist local families in need. 

The donation will be used to provide food and baby formula to Olmsted County residents who are anticipated to be impacted by the suspension of the federal funds, the news release says. 

Officials say the donation is anticipated to cover food costs for about half of November. 

In a post on his Facebook page, Olmsted County Board Chair Mark Thein said the $200,000 is half of the funding needed to provide food to Olmsted County residents experiencing hunger for the next month. 

He also called for anyone who is able to donate to help cover the rest of the cost. “We provide these levy funds as a challenge to our community to come up with the rest. The County CAN’T be the only answer to this problem,” Thein wrote.

County officials say 12,817 residents living in more than 6,000 households receive about $1.9 million combined per month in SNAP benefits. 

The news release says more than 3,000 residents receive Women, Infants, and Children benefits to cover $250,000 in food purchases per month. Minnesota’s WIC says they have enough funds to cover the cost of the benefits for about half of the next month.