The City of Hastings has proclaimed that the Hastings community will work together during the Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign to drive out hunger and restock the Market food shelf at Hastings Family Service (HFS).
All monetary gifts and pounds of food/personal care items collected through April 6 will be proportionately matched by Minnesota Foodshare to support HFS food programs, making an even greater impact. Community members can help in multiple ways. Financial gifts can be made online, mailed, or dropped off at HFS. The community is also invited to attend special fundraising and collection events throughout the month.
The annual National Honor Society’s Food Drive is again happening in March to maximize the impact with the proportionate matching funds for food. NHS will distribute empty paper grocery bags to area households to fill with nonperishable food items, and the students will collect the bags on Sunday, March 9th from 4 to 6 p.m. If you don’t have a bag delivered in your neighborhood, you can still support their food drive by bringing your bag of items to the HFS Donation Center.
MN Foodshare reports a record-breaking 9 million visits to MN food shelves in 2024, nearly doubling in the past two years. Food insecurity continues to climb in Minnesota at an alarming pace and HFS is experiencing an unprecedented growth in need as well. According to HFS Executive Director Amy Sutton, “The Minnesota FoodShare March Campaign is a chance for the entire community to come together to fight hunger. We are working hard to creatively expand access to food throughout the community for families, seniors and individuals and we are so fortunate to be part of a community that rallies to help one another. Your support in providing help and hope to neighbors has never been more critical.”
The 28th year of Hastings Tastings returns on Monday, March 24th, showcasing the best from local eating and drinking establishments. Limited tickets are available and can be purchased online at hastingsfamilyservice.org, at the HFS Donation Center, Hastings Cub, and Hastings YMCA. According to Sutton, “This annual fundraising event is an important part of how we can serve the community, and this year, it is the beginning of our 55th anniversary celebration!” Tickets are $55 in honor of the 55th anniversary of HFS service to the community, and your ticket purchase can feed two families of 3-4 for a week while you also enjoy the best meal of the year.
Join the citywide effort to drive out hunger! Learn more about events, get information on hosting a food or fund drive, and donate online.
