The Number of People Seeking Food “Unbelievable.”

Chum kicks off March food drive timed at dealing head-on with slow months.

Last year people went to Minnesota food shelves over seven million times–up over 30% from the year before, according to Minnesota FoodShare.

That is the story behind a display of food items laid out in Duluth Monday. It was the backdrop for Minnesota FoodShare’s yearly campaign with Chum.

During March they hope to collect 50,000 pounds of food and $100,000 in cash donations. Organizers say there is essentially no stop to the flow of those asking for help.

“The amount of people we are seeing on a regular basis is pretty unbelievable. We’re used to giving away food and taking a good two to three hours to do it on an open day. Last Wednesday we gave away almost eighty boxes in under forty-five minutes,” said Scott Van Daele, Chum’s Distributive Services Director.

“So, it’s kind of like a land grab and everybody comes in and grabs as much as they can as fast as they can and goes about their business. But we are truly sort of like the last line of defense for people. We see a lot of people come in and they don’t have a single thing for their house or apartment and are just looking for that one thing or two things to sort of sustain them, you know, until the next round of paychecks comes in or something like that,” said Van Daele.

Not all food comes in cans and boxes. Chum also works with area farmers, using some of its cash donations to buy fresh vegetables.

The funds directly help and support local agriculture operations, while bringing a variety of fresh produce to people who don’t always see that as an option.

“In the beginning of the season it’s lots of like lettuce and radishes, and kohlrabi. Maybe things that people might not find on their grocery store shelves very often,” said Emily Richey, the owner and operator of Agate Acres in Two Harbors.

“But, throughout the season [it] turns into carrots and tomatoes and peppers, and then to squash and onions and pumpkins and things at the end of the season,” said Richey.

Those behind this month’s drive say while they certainly welcome and value food donations, it is cash donations that go even further.

Chum’s Van Daele says one dollar used to be able to buy the equivalent of seven donated items, but it is now closer to three.

He says the timing of this drive is no accident. He says giving and donations usually drop off between the holidays and the tax season.