Food Distribution

Giwiidookoodaadimin - We help each other

Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2022
2 - 4:30 p.m. at Niiwin Market 102 E 4th St.

AICHO will be distributing 200 bags of food, household essentials, personal protective equipment (PPE) and COVID-19 health information via curbside pick-up. We will be distributing supplies on a first-come, first-served basis.

We are offering limited delivery services to elders, households in quarantine due to COVID-19, and those who are homebound. All deliveries will occur the week after curbside distribution. To make a request for delivery, register by emailing foodaccess@aicho.org.

We are planning our next distribution for October 12, 2022. Check this page regularly for updates in case of cancellations or postponements.

Video by Ivy Vainio

Miigwech to our community, for all the ways you help each other to stay healthy and give support to one another!

Community 'circle' is strong and resilient

DULUTH-Projects to provide food, address mental health, care for caregivers and keep schoolchildren connected are highlighted in the new annual report of the Duluth Superior Area Community Foundation.

The report, "Circles of Community," details projects that began in 2020, with many continuing today, through foundation grant funding. The projects have kept the region strong and resilient through challenges presented by COVID-19, social unrest and political division.

"Perhaps never in recent times has our community circle been tested as it has over the last nearly two years, "foundation President and CEO Shaun Floerke said, "But when we look at the Northland, our circle remains unbroken. That's testament to the strength of our people who commit to living together in healthy community--and who show up to put in the work needed to keep it that way."

COVID-19 Emergency Food Support

The Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS) collaborated with General Mills to develop the SNAP Campaign focused on families with children who have faced increasing food insecurity over the last year.

The campaign will use digital marketing to direct interested people to www.mnfoodhelper.org, which connects them to one of the department's 32 contracted SNAP specialist partners. This statewide network of partners offers SNAP information and personalized application assistance in all 87 counties.

Additional Resources
Hunger Solutions
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
FindHelp

Food Insecurity

"Being food insecure means not having enough money (or other resources like SNAP)
to buy enough food for all members of the household."
- Hunger Solutions

The COVID-19 pandemic has been tremendously difficult on our community. We know that many of our community members have faced increasing food insecurity over the past year and resources are being stretched. In Minnesota alone, visits to state and federally supported food shelves were up 7% in 2020. Between November and December 2020, AICHO served 3,029 households and 250 unsheltered families and individuals.

What does food insecurity look like?

Running out of food before being able to buy more
Eating less balanced meals
Cutting back on size of meals or skipping meals because there isn’t enough money for food

While people of any race can experience food insecurity, Black, Indigenous, and People of Color are affected by food insecurity more in comparison to white, non-Hispanic individuals. According to Feeding America, 1 in 4 Native Americans have faced food insecurity in 2019, prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This graph by Hunger Solutions shows the increase of Minnesotan visits to state and federally supported food shelves between 2019 and 2020. To learn more about their findings, click here for Hunger Solutions 2020 Food Shelf Statistics Report.

Photo by Ivy Vainio

The Giwiidookoodaadimin COVID-19 Emergency Food Distribution continues to serve tribal communities, local non-profits, individuals and families across St. Louis County and Carlton County. The program provides food distribution, food box delivery service to elders, and food relief for those who are unsheltered and community members in isolation/quarantine. In addition to food boxes, AICHO distributes disposable masks and cloth masks for adults and children, hand sanitizer, hand wipes, cleaning supplies and thermometers. We also provide baby essentials to families with little ones.