Portions | monthly e-newsletter from the Great Plains Food Bank

PORTIONS | July 2023

Monthly e-newsletter from the Great Plains Food Bank

Company pledge will provide 300,000 meals for those in need

ONEOK, Inc. is serious about ensuring no one in North Dakota and Clay County, Minn., goes hungry. We were thrilled to receive news earlier this month that the company had pledged an incredible $150,000 gift that will go directly towards keeping children, seniors and families fed into 2025!

Their gift was enough to provide 300,000 meals for those in need. Longtime supporters of our work since 2018, ONEOK has now committed more than $300,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank.

Thank you to ONEOK for their generosity and commitment to ending hunger - today, tomorrow and for good!

Read more about this amazing gift here

Support the Hunger Free N.D. Garden Project this growing season

As harvest season nears, remember that the Great Plains Food Bank is encouraging you to set aside a few rows of your garden or field to help those in need as part of the North Dakota Department of Agriculture's

Hunger Free North Dakota Garden Project.

As you harvest your gardens and crops this year, please consider making donations of fresh, nutritious produce to help feed our hungry neighbors!

Learn more about the project here

Find a list of partners accepting fresh produce here

Stories of Hope:

Feeding a family

When Amber heard the Great Plains Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry was stopping in Fort Yates, she jumped at the opportunity to receive some fresh produce and other staples.

She picked up some items for her own household, which includes three girls ages 4, 7 and 11.

While she has a full-time job and somewhat easy access to food, keeping her growing and active children fed can be a challenge.

“They’ll snack me to death,” said Amber.

But most of all, Amber was determined to pick up some of the essentials for her partner’s 86-year-old grandmother.

Read Amber's story here

U.S. Department of Agriculture addresses food insecurity across N.D.

We were incredibly grateful for an opportunity to visit with U.S. Department of Agriculture representatives this summer to discuss food insecurity issues facing our hungry neighbors in North Dakota.

Deputy Under Secretary for Food, Nutrition and Consumer Services Stacy Dean joined Great Plains Food Bank CEO Melissa Sobolik in touring one of our outstanding partner food pantries - HC Community Care Center & Food Pantry in Grand Forks.

The group took several other important stops across our great state including Spirit Lake Nation and Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians to discuss the 16 various nutrition assistance programs through the USDA Food and Nutrition Service, as well as the high priority the USDA places on food distribution and access for those most in need.

Latter-Day Saints donate 40,000 pounds of food

Twenty-four pallets totaling 40,000 pounds of pasta, protein and other items all grown and processed by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was unloaded inside our warehouse. This produce will immediately help feed hungry children, seniors and families across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota!

The church is not done either - they will be making a similar donation later this summer to the Dorothy Day Food Pantry to help feed even more of our hungry neighbors.

Gifts of Mention

Thanks to all that continue to aid our work across North Dakota! We would like to recognize those recent gifts that have made a substantial impact in the fight to end hunger: Artography by Bethany (via proceeds from the 2023 Goddess Gala), contributions from Feeding America, Nodak Insurance Company, and Spickler Ranch Inc., and grants awarded through the Archer Daniels Midland Company, Bayer Fund, and our local Fargo-Moorhead Area Foundation.

Upcoming Mobile Pantry stops

The Great Plains Food Bank Mobile Food Pantry provides fresh vegetables, fruits, shelf-stable items, meat, bakery items, boxed goods and more to communities in need. Items are distributed right off of our truck by our staff and volunteers and delivered directly to people in need. Distributions are set up as a drive-through where clients are able to stay in their cars and items are placed directly inside their vehicle. All in need of food assistance are welcome to come and receive food at no cost!

July 27

Mayville-Portland | May-Port Food Pantry | 703 Helen Avenue | 2 p.m.

Hawley | REACH | 421 5th Street | 11:45 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.

August 2

Rugby | Fairgrounds community building | 208 2nd Avenue NE | 3:45-4:30 p.m.

August 8

Dodge | Central Avenue | 10:30-11:15 a.m. (Mountain Time)

Mandaree | Water Chief Hall | 105 4th Avenue Southwest | 2:45-3:30 p.m.

New Town | Northern Lights Community Center | 710 East Avenue | 5:15-6:15 p.m.

August 9

Plaza | Cenex | 4165 64th Avenue Northwest | 11:15 a.m. – 12 p.m.

Four Bears | Johnny Bird Veteran Memorial Bridge | 2010 Chief Four Bears Avenue | 9-9:45 a.m.

August 16

Hankinson | Bus Barn parking lot | 415 1st Avenue SE | 2:30-4 p.m.

Wahpeton | NDSCS Blikre Activities Center (lot S9) | 902 14th Avenue North 3:30-4:30 p.m.

August 22

Wilton | Wilton Food Pantry | 42 Dakota Avenue | 12:45-2 p.m.

Underwood | Community Cupboard of Underwood | 208 Lincoln Avenue | 3-6 p.m.

August 23

Williston | Upper Missouri Valley Fairgrounds | 519 53rd Street East | 2:30-4 p.m.

August 24

Trenton | TISA Building | 331 4th Avenue East | 10:30 a.m. – 4 p.m.

Grenora | 1 Main Street | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m.

August 31

Parshall | North Country Oil | 7258 38th Street NW | 3-4 p.m.

White Shield | Public safety building | 401 Son of Star, Roseglen, N.D. | 4:30 p.m.

Mobile Pantry Schedule linked Here

About the Great Plains Food Bank

The Great Plains Food Bank's mission is to end hunger together. A proud partner of Feeding America, our vision is to create a hunger-free North Dakota and Clay County, Minn. We do all things in the spirit of passion, service and innovation. Together we can solve hunger.

GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK

1720 3rd Avenue North

Fargo, ND 58102

1315 South 20th Street

Bismarck, ND 58504

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