[ST. PAUL, MN] – Governor Tim Walz today issued an executive order directing the Minnesota Department of Veteran Affairs (MDVA) to coordinate the development of a statewide Veteran Food Pantry Network to provide food support for veterans, service members, and their families.

“Our veterans have sacrificed their health, safety, and personal freedoms in service to our country. Yet, here at home, many are left struggling to put food on the table,” said Governor Walz. “In Minnesota, we made a bipartisan commitment to provide our veterans with support and care, and we’re ensuring that every veteran and service member has access to affordable, healthy food – regardless of what happens at the federal level.”

The United States Department of Veterans Affairs estimates that 13% of veterans who are enrolled in health care through the VA have reported food insecurity. Recent data from the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth, and Families report that thousands of Minnesota veterans depend on federal food programs like SNAP.

Executive Order 25-11 calls on MDVA to coordinate a statewide Veteran Food Pantry Network to distribute food items to partner organizations, ensuring efficient access for Minnesota’s veterans, service members, and their families, and creating a path forward to managing food insecurity.

MDVA delivers programs and services statewide and has already made significant progress in ending veteran homelessness. The agency is well positioned to coordinate efforts that improve reliable access to nutritious food.