ST. PAUL, Minn. - A unique program is teaching Minnesotans compassion for the working poor, by putting them in the shoes of those who struggle on a daily basis. Geannae Falconer, director of Urban Immersion Services, Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches, says one exercise in the Poverty and Privilege Training program has participants making the same difficult choices that many working families have to make when it comes to spending their limited income.

"You're doing everything society says you need to do in order to make ends meet, and yet you're really struggling. And what kind of sacrifices do those families have to make, and what kind of judgments do we as a community place on them for how they choose to spend money, without realizing all the other stressors that are involved in their life?"

Currently about 11 percent of Minnesotans are living in poverty, and Falconer says seeing just how tough it is for those who are barely scraping by can be a bit depressing for the participants.

"But I would say that, by and large, groups leave being very hopeful that they can be about changing the realities of poverty. Our hope is really to start talking about how to cease managing the issue of poverty, and look toward: how do we end poverty?"

In addition to the simulation, the attendees take part in a number of other exercises. One is called Justice in Jeopardy, which teaches facts and figures on the complexity of poverty.

"It's based on the Jeopardy game, but it's designed to teach a lot of statistics, in an interactive way that helps people to get a sense of indignation or deep dissatisfaction for the plight of the world or our community."

The training has been taken by church and civic groups, school and court officials and more. It's part of Urban Immersion Services through the Greater Minneapolis Council of Churches.

More information is at urbanimmersion.gmcc.org.




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South Dakotans face high prices at the grocery store and some are working to ease the burden.

A new report from the Federal Trade Commission finds some grocery retailers used the supply-chain disruptions of the pandemic to raise prices and collect bigger profits, even after supply chains regulated.

One South Dakota group is trying to reduce sticker shock by targeting the state sales tax on groceries. Dakotans for Health is sponsoring a citizens ballot initiative to repeal the 4.2 % tax.

Rick Weiland, co-founder of the group, said lower food bills would make a meaningful difference for some.

"People of modest means, or low income hardworking families, disproportionately spend upwards of 30% on food," Weiland pointed out. "This is going to be helpful."

South Dakota is one of only two states in the country to apply its full state sales tax rate to groceries with no exemptions, Mississippi being the other. More than 9% of South Dakotans are considered food insecure, meaning they do not always have access to enough healthy food.

The grocery tax has been a popular topic among state legislators in recent years. Republican Gov. Kristi Noem even campaigned on the promise to repeal it. Critics have said proposing a tax cut without a way to finance it is irresponsible.

Weiland pointed out Gov. Noem had a formula spelled out when she brought forward her bill in 2023, which was voted down.

"She had no problem defending her position in front of the Legislature, in terms of how much revenue the state was going to lose and where they could make it up," Weiland recounted.

The initiative needs about 17,500 signatures by next month to appear on the November ballot.

Colorado families must sign up before the end of April to receive $120 per child to buy food through the new Summer EBT program approved by Congress. Families with incomes that qualify for free and reduced-price school lunches - up to around $49,000 a year for a family of three - must enroll through their school.

Anya Rose, public policy director with Hunger Free Colorado, said as school cafeterias close their doors for summer, EBT cards can help kids get the nutrition they need to return to school in the fall ready to learn.

"A lot of families will be automatically enrolled, if they are enrolled in programs like TANF, SNAP, Medicaid. If you are unsure, then talk to your school about filling out the household income form to make sure you can qualify this year if you're income eligible," she said.

EBT grocery cards can be used to buy fruits and vegetables, milk, cheese, eggs, breads, meat, fish and other food at all grocery stores that accept SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program formerly known as food stamps.

Rose noted grocery cards will be sent by mail, so it's important to make sure schools have your correct address.

Some 337,000 Colorado children are eligible for the program that is expected to generate up to $72 million in economic activity across the state. Grocery cards are available to all income-qualifying households regardless of their immigration status.

"There are no immigration eligibility requirements. And accessing Summer EBT and school meals do not impact immigration status in any way," she explained.

Filling out your school's household income application, sometimes called a school meal or benefit form, will also bring critical federal dollars into Colorado's Healthy School Meals for All initiative. It's currently running $24 million over budget. Rose adds there are other benefits for families who participate in Summer EBT.

"That same form can also qualify students to get discounts on school-related fees for things like SAT or ACT testing, or athletics or band or field trips or other activities," she said.

Oregon is participating in a federal food benefits program for children, called Summer EBT.

Dollars from the program will go even farther to purchase produce, through the Double Up Food Bucks program.

The Oregon Legislature approved the state's participation in the Summer EBT program, making nearly 300,000 children eligible to receive $40 for food each month over the summer.

Mason Durfee, Double Up Food Bucks organizer with Oregon Food Bank, said the additional benefits can be used for the Double Up program.

"Essentially, that increases their total monthly budget that they have," said Durfee, "but also what's really cool about Summer EBT is any of the Summer EBT benefits can also be used to earn Double Up, because they're just being treated as additional SNAP dollars on someone's card."

The Double Up Food Bucks program allows participants with benefits through the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, to buy fresh produce and have the dollars they spend matched - essentially doubling their purchasing power.

Double Up Food Bucks coordinator with Oregon Food Bank, Jas Eppesheimer, said the program is available at a variety of venues across the state.

"The benefits at participating farmers markets are amazing, grocery stores and CSA - Community Supported Agriculture - farms," said Eppesheimer. "So, shoppers can bring home just a lot more fresh produce."

The program matches up to $20 of purchases per day at participating farmers markets. At participating grocery stores, up to $20 spent on fruits and vegetables can be redeemed for produce on the next visit.

The program can also go toward CSA memberships. Oregonians can find participating organizations at doubleuporegon.org.