National issues affect local food shelf

By Anna Jauhola
When the federal government shut down for 45 days and SNAP food benefits were cut, food shelves across the nation were dramatically affected. It was deemed SNAP benefits weren’t going to be released in Minnesota for November, so the state sent an emergency, one-time $4 million allotment to food banks across the state.
Cornerstone Food Pantry, which operates inside Grace Lutheran Church in Hallock, received a portion of that funding. Volunteer Heather Peterson said they received just under $5,900.
“The funds were very helpful as we used them to purchase food through North Country Food Bank,” she said.
In November alone, Cornerstone served nine new households, totalling 54 households for the month, amounting to 129 people. Thirty-six of those were minors. They distributed 5,464 pounds of food – an increase of nearly 1,000 pounds over distribution in October.

To read the whole story, see the Dec. 10, 2025, edition of the Kittson County Enterprise