[0:00] Well, greetings everybody. This is Jim [0:01] Huffman, your adina mayor, and this is [0:04] the mayor's minute for Friday, November [0:06] 7th, 2025. Because of the ongoing [0:08] federal government shutdown, funding for [0:11] several food assistance programs has [0:13] been disrupted, and that's affecting [0:15] some families right here in Nina. Food [0:18] benefits are uncertain for individuals [0:19] who participate in what's called SNAP, [0:22] the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance [0:24] Program, and then the Minnesota [0:26] Counterpart, the Minnesota Family [0:27] Investment Program, or MIP. Also, WICK, [0:31] the special supplemental nutrition [0:34] program for women, infants, and children [0:36] will continue temporarily, but only [0:38] until existing reserve funds run out, [0:40] which is estimated to be sometime in [0:42] December of this year. [0:44] Right now, more than 2,000 I say more [0:47] than 2,000 Edina residents rely on SNAP [0:50] or MIP and nearly 200 residents count on [0:53] WICK for healthy food, infant formula, [0:56] and nutrition counseling. Combined, [0:59] these programs support working families, [1:01] people between jobs, pregnant [1:03] individuals, and parents with young [1:05] children. To assist all these different [1:08] folks in our community, the Adina Police [1:10] and Fire departments are collecting food [1:12] donations for VEP, our local food shelf [1:15] through the end of the year. The most [1:17] needed items include beans, lentils, [1:19] brown rice, pasta, canned fruits and [1:22] vegetables, and canned chicken or canned [1:24] tuna. You can drop off donations at city [1:27] hall, the Adina Police Department, fire [1:30] station number one, or new fire station [1:31] number two. The police department lobby [1:34] is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, [1:36] and the other sites are open during [1:38] business hours. Cash donations, of [1:41] course, are always appreciated to VEP. [1:43] You can donate at vep.org. [1:46] And just $10 funds an express pack that [1:49] provides seven to 10 essential food [1:50] items for a family in need. If you or [1:54] someone you know needs help, call the [1:56] Minnesota Food Helpline at 1888711151 [2:01] to find food shelves and meal programs [2:03] near you. Please join me in supporting [2:06] our friends and our neighbors during [2:08] this difficult time. This is Jim Hufflin [2:10] and that's your mayor's minute for [2:11] Friday, November 7th, 2025. Keep [2:14] thinking about your friends and [2:16] neighbors, the people in need, and have [2:17] a great weekend.