BRAINERD — The Brainerd lakes area is rallying around some of its most vulnerable population to make sure no one goes hungry this winter.

A Stock the Shelves Food Drive is just one of the ways the community is coming together to ensure everyone gets the food they need in the wake of rising food costs, cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and further complications from the government shutdown.

The Crow Wing Food Access Coalition launched the drive to raise funds for 12 different food shelves and meal programs across the lakes area.

Erich Heppner, chair of the coalition, said the drive was born out of the added pressure he and his food shelf and meal program colleagues have seen in recent months. Food shelves and soup kitchens are seeing an uptick in usage and visits from

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