With growing food insecurity, demand for organizations like JFCS and local food shelves will continue to rise
By Kelsey Slovut-Einertson • JFCS Food Security Coordinator
My name is Kelsey Slovut-Einertson and I am the new Food Security Coordinator at JFCS. I also coordinate the Kosher Meals on Wheels program. My education and work backgrounds are in public health and gerontology. That background shapes how I view and approach food security. I believe that access to healthy and culturally relevant foods is foundational for communities to be able to achieve healthy outcomes and thrive. I am very excited to be working to help address food security needs in the community at JFCS.
Food security in Minnesota
In recent years, food insecurity has become an increasingly common issue facing Minnesotan families. This is due in large part to the high levels of inflation and increasing food costs. According to a statewide hunger survey from Second Harvest Heartland and Wilder Research, 26% of households in Minnesota with children were food insecure in 2024. Food shelf visits, which have risen every year since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, are at an all-time high in Minnesota.
The need for food assistance will only be exacerbated by the upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) due to the passage of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act in July. This bill will implement work requirements for adults age 18-64 and parents with children age 14 and older; remove work exemptions for some groups such as veterans and young adults aging out of foster care; remove eligibility for many non-citizen groups, including refugees; and will shift costs from the federal government to individual states.
The role of JFCS in Food Security
As the need for food resources increases, and access to government programs decreases, the demand for organizations like JFCS and local food shelves will continue to rise. JFCS provides many programs and services aimed at reducing food insecurity in our community including:
- Kosher Meals on Wheels
- Partnership with PRISM food shelf
- Emergency Food Boxes
- SNAP application assistance
- Referrals to external food resources
- Advocacy related to food programs
JFCS will continue to support our community with existing food security needs and with navigating the upcoming changes to federal food programs. I am excited to have the ability to continue and expand the scope of these programs at JFCS as the new Food Security Coordinator.
If you have any questions, need assistance with food access, or would like to learn more on ways to help, please reach out to JFCS at 952-546-0616.
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