Since the pandemic began in March, state officials say about 300,000 Minnesotans have visited food shelves each month — roughly representing a 30% increase over typical visits.
 
 Additionally, state food banks are distributing around 2.4 million pounds of food per week — that’s an increase of 20 to 40-percent since 2019.
 
 So, in hopes of meeting this unprecedented demand for food in the wake of COVID-19, Gov. Tim Walz and Lt. Gov. Peggy Flanagan announced $12 million dollars in relief aid for food banks.
 
 Walz and Flanagan made the funding announcement recently at the Department of Indian Work food shelf in St. Paul.
 
 There, they said that the 12 million dollars will support nearly 300 food shelves and all seven food banks across the state.
 
 Lt. Gov. Flanagan says the support will make sure “children and families, seniors, people experiencing homelessness, Native communities, communities of color and all Minnesotans who need a bit of relief can put food on the table during these challenging months.”
 
 The funding is made possible by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act passed by U.S. congress late March.
 
 So far, the governor has directed a total of $75 million of that federal coronavirus relief aid toward food security in Minnesota.
 
 Food bank aid is one of many efforts by the state to ensure access to food.
 
 Information about food assistance resources is available on the state’s food emergency webpage. You can find that by searching Minnesota Food Emergency in any search engine.