The positive thing that comes from challenging times is that crisis breeds creativity and brings community together,” she said. “Neighbors helping neighbors will always be our greatest source of help and hope.”

- Amy Sutton, Hastings Family Service Executive Director

On the morning of Oct. 31, representatives from the Prairie Island Indian Community and Treasure Island Resort and Casino walked into Hastings Family Service (HFS) with a $20,000 check in hand. The gift, part of the Island Impact program, came at a time of unprecedented need for the local food shelf.
The call came late the afternoon before. “I received a phone call from Kristin Edmundson, who told me they had been discussing the growing food crisis and wanted to help,” said HFS Executive Director Amy Sutton. “She said they wanted to make the donation as quickly as possible.”
The Island Impact initiative, launched in June, is Prairie Island and Treasure Island’s corporate social responsibility platform, designed to turn the power of travel and gaming into a ripple effect of generosity. “We wanted to create a program that allows us to support our communities in a lasting way,” said Edmundson, Community Engagement Supervisor for Treasure Island.
Prairie Island Treasurer Michael Childs Jr. added that this donation came with a sense of urgency. “Especially with SNAP benefits running out, we really wanted to be able to help you out,” he said during the check presentation. The immediacy of the gift was deeply appreciated by Sutton and her team. “The community stepping up helps bridge the gap,” she said. “We couldn’t do it without that kind of support.”
It is no secret that HFS has seen continued high levels of need throughout the year, even before the government shutdown. According to Sutton, 2025 has had the highest demand for services in HFS’s 55-year history. “The Hastings Family Service mission is to engage the community to provide help and hope for neighbors, and our communities have always supported that mission,” she said. “We have never needed that help more than we do right now.”
The challenge comes from a perfect storm of rising food costs, cuts to federal programs, and increased local needs.
SNAP, the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, is often the first line of defense against hunger for families in need. SNAP benefits, sometimes referred to as food stamps, were not dispersed this month due to the ongoing federal shutdown, the second longest in US History at the time of writing.
The SNAP program’s wide reach provides nine meals for every one meal a food shelf can provide according to Sutton.
With roughly 440,000 Minnesotans relying on SNAP, a funding gap leaves food shelves struggling to fill the void. “The food shelf network in Minnesota cannot fully meet that increase in demand,” Sutton said. “But with more food, more funding and more volunteers, HFS can help fill the gap.”
While Governor Tim Walz recently approved $4 million in emergency funding to support food shelves, Sutton explained that it only covers two days’ worth of SNAP benefits statewide. “It’s a short-term help, but it’s something,” she said. “We’re grateful for that, but it means, we need to find ways to fill the gaps.”
HFS is working to prepare ahead of demand rather than react to it. “We don’t want to wait until we’re overwhelmed,” said Sutton. “Our goal is simple, if someone comes to us for food, they will leave with food.”
That effort is being bolstered by creative partnerships, community volunteers, and other area food shelves. Prairie Island and Treasure Island have also extended their Island Impact support to Red Wing and Pine Island food shelves, helping families across southeastern Minnesota.
Edmundson explained that the Island Impact program supports local charities throughout the year through it’s Charity of the Month program. Guests at Treasure Island can donate leftover change from their vouchers or drop contributions in donation boxes on their way out. “We’ve seen around $30,000 raised each month,” she said. “Starting in 2026, Island Impact will match those guest donations dollar for dollar.”
The 2026 charities will be announced later this month.
The Charity of the Month program also gives local nonprofits a chance to connect with visitors. “It’s not just the money, it’s the awareness,” said Dawn Marie Vihrachoff, Director of Philanthropy at Hastings Family Service. “People learn about the work we do, and that creates lasting community support.”
For Sutton and her staff, those gestures provide more than funding. “Every volunteer, every prayer, every check, every smile that walks through our door, it all strengthens us,” she said. “This work can be heavy, but our community holds up the net with us.”
Sutton also explained how HFS uses creative strategies to stretch every donation. Through food rescue partnerships with local businesses such as Cub Foods, Coborn’s, Kwik Trip, and Walmart, HFS collects food that is still good but nearing expiration. “Expiration dates don’t mean food has gone bad,” Sutton said. “We can take those items, get them into people’s hands quickly, and make sure nothing goes to waste.”
Any food that cannot be distributed safely is redirected to farmers for animal feed or composting. “Forty percent of the food in this country ends up in landfills,” said Sutton. “We’re doing everything we can to change that.”
Because HFS is a food shelf, not a food bank, it relies on partners like Second Harvest Heartland to supply food at reduced prices. Every donated dollar can be stretched into as much as three- or four-dollars’ worth of food. “With the right resources, we can order in bulk and store it safely,” said Sutton. “That’s one advantage we have, warehouse space to be ready when the need grows.”
As difficult as the moment may be, Sutton sees hope. “The positive thing that comes from challenging times is that crisis breeds creativity and brings community together,” she said. “Neighbors helping neighbors will always be our greatest source of help and hope.”
That sense of unity is visible across Hastings. Local restaurants have offered food donations, youth groups have organized drives, and individuals have stepped up to give both time and money. “It’s truly a community lifting one another,” said Sutton.
How to Help, and Be Helped
For those in need, Sutton urges people not to wait. “Ask early,” she said. “Even if we can’t solve the entire issue, we can help find resources or connect people with other services.”
For those who can help, monetary donations remain the most effective support, since HFS can leverage its partnerships to buy large quantities at discounted rates. “We can stretch dollars further and maximize those gifts,” Sutton said.
Volunteer opportunities are also open, and food donations continue to be needed. HFS keeps its website updated with the most current list of most-needed items.
Sutton added that November’s Give to the Max Day will be an especially powerful opportunity to help. “We are incredibly fortunate to have $35,000 in matching funds pledged by donors this year,” she said. “That means every dollar will have a greater impact, allowing us to reach even more neighbors in need.”
Finally, community members can show support by participating in upcoming events such as Gobble Gait, Give to the Max Day, and the Holiday Train. “We invite the community to rally together,” Sutton said. “Participate in Gobble Gait, schedule a Give to the Max Day gift, or bring food for the Holiday Train drive. Every bit helps.”
Even in difficult times, Hastings Family Service stands as a reflection of the community it serves. “It’s pretty special here in Hastings,” said Sutton. “We never do this work alone. When the need grows heavier, more people step up to help lift up their neighbors.”
As the challenges continue to unfold, one thing remains clear, Hastings Family Service and its neighbors are meeting them together, with compassion, creativity, and a shared belief that no one in the community should go hungry.
As noted by both Edmundson and Sutton, the situation is changing rapidly, sometimes by the day, and even by the hour. While this donation was being celebrated, news emerged that a federal judge in Massachusetts ordered the Trump administration to continue funding SNAP benefits for the nearly 42 million Americans who rely on the program.
The ruling required the government to provide the court, no later than Monday, Nov. 3, with details on how it plans to keep the program funded, and whether the benefits must be distributed in full or in part. As of Monday afternoon, reports were that half of the SNAP benefits were going to be paid for November, but recipients are not likely to see the payments immediately.
According to the Associated Press Monday afternoon, the administration said it would provide details to states on Monday on calculating the per-household partial benefit. The process of loading SNAP cards, which involves steps by state and federal government agencies and vendors, can take up to two weeks in some states. But the USDA warned in a court filing that it could take weeks or even months for states to make all the system changes to send out reduced benefits. The average monthly benefit is usually about $190 per person.
Thankfully, local organizations like Hastings Family Service continue to prepare for whatever comes next, ensuring that no one in the community is left without food or hope.