In Minnesota, families are hungry.

According to statistics released by Minnesota FoodShare, there were more than 1.5 million visits to Minnesota’s food shelves in 2003 &045; a 15-percent increase from 2002. This is an all-time record for food shelf use in Minnesota. Food shelves distributed more than 34 million pounds of food in 2003.

Hunger can take its toll. Nearly half of the hungry who visit food shelves are children. Hungry kids have difficulty learning and have more medical problems and absenteeism than children with adequate nourishment. And senior citizens continue to visit food shelves in record numbers: More than 20 percent of food shelf clients are elderly. Thirty-five percent are retired or have a disability which prevents work.

It’s also incorrect to say that people who use food shelves are unemployed. The truth is, more than 50 percent of food shelf clients work. They are the working poor and do not make enough to cover their basic needs. Low wages without benefits, child care expenses, skyrocketing housing costs and high out-of-pocket medical expenses making working families vulerable to hunger.

State budget cuts have also gutted programs for those who do qualify for them. For most, the food shelf is the only help available.

The good news is that because of Minnesotan’s generosity, food shelves so far have been able to keep up with the ever-increasing demand for food.

The Minnesota FoodShare campaign, the largest food drive in the state, is running now through March 31. Its goal this year is collect 8 million pounds and dollars combined. Its theme is: &uot;Minnesotans: when times get tough, we all pitch in.&uot;

Locally, various entities are making it easy to donate this month.

The Salvation Army Food Pantry accepts donations at 402 S. Washington Ave. between 9 a.m. and noon and 1 and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

This month, people can also drop off cash and food donations at U.S. Bank. Items collected there will benefit the ecumenical food shelf at First Presbyterian Church in Albert Lea.

And Scouts in Freeborn County will be leaving plastic donation bags on doors March 13 and will be back to collect filled bags on March 20. Scouts in Albert Lea will deliver donations at the Salvation Army, and in Alden to the Alden Area Food Shelf.

Let’s make it a point to help our neighbors this month, and prove that Minnesotans truly do pitch in when times get tough.