Eden Prairie Local News
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Saturday, April 1
    • About
      • About EPLN
      • Team
      • EPLN in the News
      • Policies
    • Contact
    Facebook Twitter Instagram
    Subscribe
    Eden Prairie Local News
    • Home
    • Schools
    • Business
    • Sports
    • Public Safety
    • City
    • Calendar
    • Donate
    • Subscribe
    • More
      • Construction
      • Outdoors
      • Politics
      • Health
      • Spirituality
      • Community Service
      • Legacy
      • Obituaries
      • Arts
      • Family
      • Holidays
      • Letter to Editor
      • Listen
      • Jobs
    Eden Prairie Local News
    Home»Community Service»High food cost and demand combined with fewer donations forces bigger PROP budget
    Community Service

    High food cost and demand combined with fewer donations forces bigger PROP budget

    By Mark WeberJuly 26, 2022Updated:July 26, 20223 Mins Read

    Eden Prairie’s largest social-services provider is among those shouldering higher food costs due to inflation.

    PROP purchases much of the food it provides to local families in need, and a variety of factors, including inflation, caused its food costs to be 45% over budget for the 2021-22 fiscal year that ended June 30, said Executive Director Jenifer Loon.

    Other factors responsible for the higher-than-expected food costs were fewer in-kind donations via food drives held by churches and by companies, many of which still have employees working at home in this COVID recovery period. In-kind food donations for the year were 20% lower than projected, said Loon.

    At the same time, there was a spike in the number of people needing PROP’s services. “The real crisis has been delayed,” Loon said about the rising demand for food and other help. “The rush is coming now.”

    Advertisement
    Ad for Washburn-McReavy

    Over the past 12 months, PROP saw a 22% increase in households and clients needing services, and a 10% increase in the number of first-time clients. All told, 1,207 households were served, and 330 of them were new.

    The numbers forced PROP to greatly increase its food budget for the 12-month period that started July 1, and so there’s added pressure to deliver on its food and fundraising campaigns.

    One of those is the Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless campaign in which a portion of all financial gifts to PROP during July are matched as it aims to raise $50,000. Another effort where matching funds are available is the Summer Food for Kids program that helps provide nutritious meals to kids that are home for the summer and not receiving school meals.

    Information on those programs, as well as a current list of critically needed food items, can be found on the PROP website, www.propfood.org.

    PROP is also looking for good participation in the community-wide Night to Unite event Aug. 2, in which Eden Prairie neighborhoods gather for social time and community-building, often collecting food for PROP as part of their activities. The event has traditionally given a big boost to the PROP food shelf, said Loon, in a season when overall food donations can be lean. (Neighborhood registration for the 2022 Night to Unite closed July 22.)

    “We’re hoping to start our fiscal year really strong,” said Loon.

    The double whammy that is a rising demand for social services and higher food costs due to inflation isn’t faced only by PROP.  Statewide, visits to food shelves between December and June of this year were up 57%, according to preliminary data compiled by Hunger Solutions Minnesota, and food shelves are paying more for the foodstuffs they buy, including meat and eggs.

    July numbers showed the U.S. consumer price index rising 9.1% over a year ago, reflecting higher gasoline, shelter, and food costs.

    When PROP purchases food, it’s typically from nonprofit food banks Second Harvest Heartland and The Food Group. PROP also has what it calls a “food rescue” program, in which donations come from local grocery stores.

    In addition, there are a number of community gardens that contribute fresh produce to PROP, and Loon encouraged other gardeners to donate their excess fresh vegetables to the food shelf.

    Be Informed
    Sign up for the FREE email newsletter from EPLN
    Subscribe

    Comments

    Comments aren’t allowed on our site, but we do offer several ways to provide feedback, and have your voice heard. If you believe the story has an error, or would like to get in touch with the author, please contact us. If you would like to respond directly to this article, we welcome and encourage Letters To the Editor. You can find details on how to submit a letter on our contact page.

    Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email
    Previous ArticleAfter long absence, EP Lions hit the links again for its Aug. 1 charity golf tournament
    Next Article Photo gallery: The Preserve turns 50

    More to READ

    8 Mins Read

    Standing with Ukraine in MN

    March 27, 2023
    3 Mins Read

    EP Optimist Club recognizes student essay winners

    March 17, 2023
    7 Mins Read

    That Southwest TV thing

    March 15, 2023
    Subscribe to get EPLN in your inbox for FREE!
    Recent Articles

    David Flom steps down

    March 31, 2023

    Phillips breaks with Dems on guns

    March 31, 2023

    ISM performs Disney’s ‘Frozen Jr.’ on March 30-31, April 1-2

    March 31, 2023

    Sales tax for affordable housing? No, say metro cities and Minnesota Chamber of Commerce

    March 30, 2023

    EP bucks trend as pothole problems persist in other metro cities

    March 30, 2023
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram
    Eden Prairie Local News is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization EIN 85-4248265 | Copyright © 2020-2023
    • About
    • Policies
    • Jobs
    • Contact
    • Advertising
    • Subscribe
    • Donate

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.