BRAINERD — Food shelves across Crow Wing County are coming together to tackle a growing and often hidden challenge. More local families are visiting food shelves today than at any point in recent memory, and the need continues to rise.

In response, the Crow Wing Food Access Coalition has launched the Stock the Shelves Food Drive to support neighbors who are struggling to put food on the table.

In Crow Wing County, about 8.5% of residents live below the poverty line. An estimated 7.9%, more than 5,000 people, experience food insecurity, which means they do not always know where their next meal will come from.

These are working parents trying to keep up with higher costs. They are seniors stretching fixed incomes. They are students balancing tuition, gas and groceries. Many are facing fo

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