skip to main content
skip to newscasts

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Public News Service Logo
facebook instagram linkedin reddit youtube twitter
view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

U.S. gender wage gap grows for first time in a decade; Trump has embraced NC's Mark Robinson, calling him 'Martin Luther King on steroids'; Volunteers sought as early voting kicks off in MN; Women's political contributions in congressional races fall short of men's.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

Rising threats of political violence, a Federal Reserve rate cut, crypto industry campaign contributions and reproductive rights are shaping today's political landscape.

view newscast page
play newscast audioPlay

A USDA report shows a widening gap in rural versus urban health, a North Carolina county remains divided over a LGBTQ library display, and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz' policies are spotlighted after his elevation to the Democratic presidential ticket.

"Superheroes" Raise Millions for MN Food Shelves

play audio
Play

Friday, April 30, 2010   

MINNEAPOLIS - Holy mountain of food, Batman! Minnesotans collected 4.6 million pounds of food and about $7.4 million dollars for the March Campaign, the state's largest annual food drive.

This year's theme was "Be a Superhero in the Fight Against Minnesota Hunger." Sue Kainz of Minnesota FoodShare says ministers, school officials and some other, rather unlikely characters even traded in their suits and ties for capes and tights.

"We had department managers at some of the big corporations here in the Twin Cities who were dressing up like superheroes. It brought out the best in people, and I think that's one of the reasons that we were so successful this year – because, despite the economy, we did raise our goal."

The March Campaign benefits about 300 food shelves across Minnesota, many of which have seen dramatic increases in demand. In 2009, there were about 3 million food shelf visits statewide, and more than half were from families with children.

The organization Volunteers Enlisted to Assist People (VEAP) operates the state's largest food shelf, with over 6,500 visitors a month. The March Campaign is critical for restocking its shelves, according to VEAP Development Director Karin Meier. She says no matter the size, every donation matters.

"I think to the general public, donating a bag of groceries or getting involved in the campaign seems so small. For us, that small commitment, pooled together with all the other people in the community, really does makes a significant difference for those people that are facing need."

Meier notes that donations are needed year-round and, if people missed out on the campaign, most local food shelves accept direct donations.



get more stories like this via email

more stories
Recipients of the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Grant can now access funding to drive financing for thousands of climate-focused and clean energy initiatives. (bilanol/Adobe Stock)

Environment

play sound

Michigan's most vulnerable communities are receiving federal funding to fight the devastating effects of climate change. It's part of the $27 billion …


Health and Wellness

play sound

September is Health Literacy Month, and a Denver-based group is working to help health professionals break a persistent pattern of discrimination …

Environment

play sound

A new report contends fossil fuel funding has biased Columbia University's climate research. The report, by two Columbia students, shows the …


Alabama releases roughly 220,279 men and 78,247 women from its prisons and jails each year. (Chad Robertson/Adobe Stock)

Social Issues

play sound

An Alabama woman is on a mission to help people who've been incarcerated for decades successfully transition back into society. The mission to …

Health and Wellness

play sound

In North Carolina, the gap between Medicaid reimbursement rates and the actual cost of dental care has reached a crisis point, impacting both …

A 2023 report by Oceana and Turtle Island Restoration Network found that more than half of the animals caught in gillnets are thrown overboard as waste. (Oceana and Blancpain)

Environment

play sound

Marine biologists conducting deep dives near five California islands are collecting data they hope will strengthen the case for ending gillnet fishing…

Environment

play sound

Researchers at Iowa State University are taking aim at the huge amount of energy used by data centers, now and in the future. They have developed a …

Environment

play sound

Rising demands for clean energy efficiency are producing a wealth of work opportunities in Illinois. These in-demand jobs are also promoting a …

 

Phone: 303.448.9105 Toll Free: 888.891.9416 Fax: 208.247.1830 Your trusted member- and audience-supported news source since 1996 Copyright © 2021