Contact: Jessica Sund
Director of Development and Communications
Phone: 507.424.1729
Email: [email protected]
Channel One has been addressing hunger for over 40 years. In working toward our mission of strengthening food access and building healthy communities, people facing food insecurity are at the center of everything we do. It is also our role to advocate for those facing hunger and the food access needs in our region.
We want to assure you that we at Channel One, as well as the staff at Channel One’s 183 agency and program partners, take our work seriously. We accountably provide over 9 million pounds of food (or roughly 10.8 million meals) to Southeastern Minnesota and Western Wisconsin each year.
Recently, you may have heard that a local restaurant has been included in the federal investigation into funds mismanagement at Feeding our Future – a former child nutrition nonprofit out of the Twin Cities.
As this investigation continues, I want to assure our community that Channel One Regional Food Bank and our partners at Feeding America are not affiliated with Feeding our Future. We have never partnered with nor granted funds to the nonprofit organization, nor have we partnered with the local business, Brava Restaurant & Cafe.
It is devastating that any organization entrusted to feed kids would act in their own self-interest, especially so close to home. These allegations lead people to question the work of meal programs statewide and nationally.
The region is relying on us to address hunger through our programs, advocacy initiatives and healthcare partnerships– and we know you count on us to do this work responsibly, as do the state and federal food programs we partner with. Our operations, policies and procedures adhere to their and our high standards of financial stewardship and client-centered service.
We know that more families are seeking assistance from Channel One’s agencies and programs throughout our region than ever before. At the Channel One Food Shelf, we’ve seen a 40% increase in visits since January. The pervasiveness of hunger has become undeniable. Channel One and our agency partners have worked hard to have enough healthy food options available to those that need it. I truly feel that we’re on a path toward real change as we continue to provide the nutritious food options our neighbors need to live healthy lives.
People facing hunger throughout our region count on your trust and continued support, and with your help, we can ensure that our neighbors have access to food resources when they need it.
On behalf of Channel One Regional Food Bank and our partners, thank you.
Virginia Merritt
Executive Director
Channel One Regional Food Bank
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ABOUT CHANNEL ONE REGIONAL FOOD BANK
Channel One Regional Food Bank, a member of Feeding America, strengthens food access and builds healthy communities. Channel One operates food programs to serve local and area needs such as: a food bank, a food shelf, mobile pantries, Childhood Hunger Programs, and the Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP). Channel One Regional Food Bank mobilizes organizations, volunteers, and donors to serve the network of nearly 200 nonprofit programs that provide food for children, adults, and families in need. Channel One serves 14 counties across southeastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin. For more information, call 507.287.2350 or visit helpingfeedpeople.org.
