Dear Friends,  

As we head into the warm summer months, many of us are looking forward to enjoying the sunshine, time off from work and school, and carefree weekends. 

But the arrival of summer can be bittersweet for our neighbors facing hunger. While children get a break from school, they also get a break from the free and reduced-priced school meals that thousands of families rely on.  

Because of the thoughtful generosity of friends like you, the Great Plains Food Bank collaborates with a network of nearly 200 partner food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens and operates several direct service programs across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota to help ensure all children and families in need have access to nutritious food.  

In this issue of Feeding Hope, you’ll read about how the Great Plains Food Bank’s Youth Summer Meals Program provides well-rounded summer meals for children like Cornell, Raniyah and Kavion who especially appreciated the fresh fruit they received.  

I hope you are as inspired as I am by all the stories of hope and resilience gathered in one newsletter. This level of support and food distribution is only possible because you choose to give. Thank you!

Sincerely,

You Are Helping Lily Thrive 

As temperatures begin to rise, Lily and her mom, Jasmine, are gearing up for more time together outdoors. Thanks to friends like you, the two will have nutritious food to fuel their summer.

Melissa is Thankful for You! 

Never one to leave a family member without a caring hand, Melissa has opened her home to her grandchildren — a 13-year-old granddaughter, a 5-year-old grandson, and a 2- year-old granddaughter. “It’s family, it’s what I do,” she said.

Program Spotlight: Cultural Food Pop-Up

Working to provide equitable foods for all of our neighbors in need, the Great Plains Food Bank began piloting cultural food pop-ups in the fall of 2022, with support from the City of Fargo. These pop-up food distributions include foods that align with dietary needs and wishes of many of our New American neighbors.

Serving Local Children in the Summer Sun

At the Great Plains Food Bank’s Youth Summer Meals Program, community partners come together to enhance the lives of neighborhood children. 

With 15 locations across Jamestown, Enderlin and West Fargo, the youth summer meals program provides nutritious meals all summer long for children at risk of hunger.