Championing Change at Hunger Day on the Hill 2025

Each year for the past decade, The Food Group has hosted Hunger Day on the Hill in collaboration with the Partners to End Hunger Coalition. Hunger Day joins voices across the state in a single, repeated chorus: no Minnesotan should go hungry. This year, our refrain was louder than ever. More than 200 food access champions descended on the Minnesota State Capitol last week to meet with legislators for Hunger Day 2025!

The room hummed with energy as community members mingled, donned nametags, and gathered materials to advocate for food-secure Minnesota. Attendees then heard from speakers about key issues and relevant policies impacting food access in Minnesota. Guests included Fairview Health Services CEO James Hereford, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Director of Racial & Health Equity Policy Janelle Waldock, Minnesota Representative Heather Keeler, and Lived Experience Cohort Member Lisa.

We also had the honor of hosting Governor Tim Walz, who shared the following message about food insecurity in Minnesota:

Governor Walz went on to speak about the importance of Hunger Day over the years and why face-to-face advocacy matters:

After the morning sessions, attendees shared lunch as they prepared for meetings and practiced speaking with legislators. We know that many people feel intimidated at the prospect of doing advocacy and speaking with legislators. But as so many of our speakers and attendees reiterated—Hunger Day is not about being a policy expert. It’s about tapping into your passion and raising your voice to make a difference.

Lisa, a member of The Food Group’s Lived Experience Cohort, shared her experience with Hunger Day 2024:

Another attendee, Martha, also shared her experience as a policy newcomer:

Andrea told us that it was powerful to see so many different people, all fighting for the same vision—a hunger-free Minnesota:

We witnessed so many powerful connections with legislators during Hunger Day on the Hill 2025. From organic hallway meetings to rotunda group huddles, this year’s advocates leveraged every opportunity to urge legislators to put ending hunger at the top of their priority list.

We also caught up with a few other Hunger Day advocates to learn why food access matters to them. Here’s what they said:

At the Food Group, we believe that all Minnesotans should have access to nutritious, culturally connected food. As one of our attendees expressed, “Food is health, and food is needed for the health of our communities.”

Food insecurity is preventable and a food-secure Minnesota is possible. To achieve that vision, we need holistic, community-informed solutions. That’s why The Food Group is fighting to protect proven programs currently at risk—like the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) and universal school meals. We’re also advocating for sustainable food shelf funding, expanding affordable fresh produce programs, and more. You can find more information about our 2025 policy priorities here.

At a Capitol press conference for Hunger Day, The Food Group Executive Director Sophia Lenarz- Coy talked about the importance of funding for Minnesota food shelves.

The Food Group believes that advocacy is essential to creating food for today and change for tomorrow. We work toward that vision by strategically championing policy for a better food system, building relationships with legislators, and investing in coalitions that bring many voices together for change. Hunger Day perfectly encapsulates that advocacy spirit.

Lastly, we asked some of our attendees if they had a message for legislators. Here’s what they said:

Collectively, we have the power to ensure all Minnesotans have access to nutritious, quality food.

As Governor Walz put it: “As long as there’s folks out there who are hungry, we’ve got more work to do. But we also know there’s policies we can put in place that reduce that.” Hunger Day on the Hill is a chance to harness our power to create the change we want to see. We hope to see you there next year! 