By EMS1 Staff
MINNEAPOLIS — Paramedics across the twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul are lending a helping hand to low-income families struggling to feed their children.
Summer presents families with the challenge of providing meals for their children, who are given free or reduced price lunch during the school year.
Paramedics with Allina Health have partnered with a hunger relief nonprofit, Matter, which has given paramedics boxes of food to distribute to families in need, reported ABC5.
The boxes include enough food for 16 meals.
“Obviously 16 meals isn’t going to solve their problem by giving them the MATTERbox, providing that for them, then gives us time to set them up with other resources within the community,” Cory Kissling, Allina Health EMS manager, said.
Community paramedic Kimberly Hedger said many low-income people have trouble asking for help on their own.
“We don’t walk up to the door with it. We get to know the people and see what their needs are, and then I think they’re a little more accepting of the assistance,” Hedger said.
For more information on organizations like Matter and to donate, visit ABC5’s Summer Harvest campaign.