Imagine a child not having milk for their cereal or to drink with their lunch. The OYH Summer Challenge makes a big difference in our ability to provide families with the help they need.”

Amy Sutton, Executive Director at Hastings Family Service

Go to www.hastingsfamilyservice.org to make your gift.

The Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless Summer Challenge aims to boost donations to MN food shelves when they need it most. Participating food shelves, including Hastings Family Service, receive a proportionate match based on the amount raised in July. The more funds donated to HFS in July, the larger the matching grant from Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless will be.

In May, the Market food shelf programs served over 900 individuals, more than any other month in our 53-year history. The need continues to be great as we move through the summer. Schools play a major role in feeding hungry kids during the school year, but when summer comes and school is out, many kids go without.  According to Amy Sutton, Executive Director at Hastings Family Service, “Summer is one of the busiest times in the food shelf because families with children must provide more meals at home and often have increased childcare expenses as well. Tight budgets get stretched even further.”

According to Sutton, the OYH Summer Challenge is a partnership that helps to keep the Market food shelf at HFS stocked with nutritious, fresh foods for families. “Imagine a child not having milk for their cereal or to drink with their lunch,” said Sutton. “The OYH Summer Challenge makes a big difference in our ability to provide families with the help they need.” 

Every dollar donated to HFS through July 31^st will count toward the proportionate match. Go to www.hastingsfamilyservice.org to make your gift or to learn more about this matching gift opportunity.