The Salvation Army and Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless announce the sixth annual $150,000 Food Shelf challenge grant. Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless will proportionally match donations to Salvation Army food shelves across Minnesota during the month of July in amounts up to $5,000. The more funds an individual food shelf raises in July — the greater the grant from Open Your Heart.

The Salvation Army locations in Albert Lea, Brainerd Lakes area, Duluth, Fairmont, Hibbing, International Falls, St. Cloud and Virginia are all participating in the matching grant.

“Summer is especially stressful for both families with children and the food shelves that serve them,” explained Col. Robert Thomson, Salvation Army northern division leader. “Summer donations to food shelves are down and when kids are home for the summer, the need is greater. Children miss out on the free meals schools offer and food shelves help to fill the gap.”

To donate, send a check to a participating Salvation Army location or donate online.

The Salvation Army northern division has been serving Minnesota and North Dakota communities since 1886. Today, the northern division serves in all 140 counties of both states, providing food, shelter, clothing, youth programs and other critical services to more than 480,000 people per year.

Open Your Heart to the Hungry and Homeless has 29 years of experience as the only grant provider in Minnesota focused solely on alleviating hunger and homelessness.

Open Your Heart believes bringing communities together to work toward a common goal is the most effective way to try to alleviate hunger in the state. Since 1986, Open Your Heart has targeted millions of dollars to strategically fight hunger in Minnesota.