Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless and Hunger Solutions — now a part of The Food Group —are excited to announce the launch of the 15th annual Open Your Heart Summer Challenge grant. 

This grant opportunity provides participating food shelves in Minnesota with a matched grant proportional to the food shelves’ fundraising activities throughout the month of July.

The persistent economic difficulties brought on by the pandemic and rising inflation have led to a continued dependence on food shelves for many households to fulfill their nutritional requirements. 

In 2023, the need for resources from food shelves surged significantly as further aid programs came to an end and food costs climbed. Consequently, food shelves are increasingly counting on the assistance from organizations like Open Your Heart to aid individuals facing hunger challenges. This funding helps raise awareness of hunger and helps food shelves raise additional funding during slower summer months when donations are down to continue meeting the needs of their local communities.

The Challenge Grant presents a matching fund opportunity for food shelves, allowing them to maximize their local fundraising efforts in July. The distribution of funds from this grant is based on the total funds raised by each participating food shelf in July and the number of food shelves involved, with grants ranging from a minimum of $150 to a maximum of $4,000.

By leveraging the Open Your Heart Summer Challenge grant, food shelves across Minnesota typically raise over $1 million in local fundraising in the month of July. In the previous year, 117 food shelves across Minnesota took advantage of this grant, collectively raising more than $2.9 million in local contributions. 

The financial support from Open Your Heart has yielded an almost 20-times return on investment for the local food shelves.

“Rising food costs and pandemic era programs sunsetting has really impacted folks right now and we’re seeing that at food shelves,” said Executive Director with The Food Group, Sophia Lenarz-Coy. “The growth just over the past two years in food shelf visits is unsustainable and our food systems need support now more than ever.”

The Big Lake Food Shelf is no exception.  They have been experiencing a continuous growth in the number of clients needing assistance since 2020.  As a local, volunteer driven organization, they need everyone’s help to make sure no-one in the community goes hungry.  This Summer Challenge will enable the food shelf  to replenish and continue to provide fresh and frozen provisions during this challenging season.