One in seventeen Minnesotans rely upon local food shelves to help feed their families. Last year, there were 2 million visits and 47 million pounds of food distributed at Minnesota’s 300 food shelves. There has been a 62 percent increase in food shelf visits since 2000. This year, many food shelves are seeing double and triple digit increases. from Hunger Solutions website
Many years ago I lobbied for the Food First Coalition, a collaboration of a number of Minnesota organizations working to end hunger. During that time I got to know an amazing person … Rev. Richard Goebel.
Dick believed, as an obituary in today’s Star Tribune notes, “that nobody should have to go without food.” I tell you, for all the public policy goals our State should aspire to reach, this one just does not seem like it should be that far-fetched. And yet, this incredible guy with the talent of bringing people together had to devote a significant portion of his life to just that – working to end hunger.
Goodbye, Dick. You will be missed.
Read this Star Tribune obituary for a look at Dick’s life.
