Great Plains Food Bank: Feeding Hope in North Dakota for 41 years

I had the opportunity to chat with Rebecca Knutson, Corporate Engagement Manager for the Great Plains Food Bank. She shared some interesting facts about the Great Plains Food Bank and the communities it serves.

Key Highlights:

Serving Communities:

• Great Plains Food Bank, founded in 1983, has been providing hunger relief assistance for 41 years, serving as the sole food bank in North Dakota.
• Operating from Fargo as its statewide distribution center and Bismarck as its regional distribution center, the organization serves the entire state of North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, through 205 partner agencies in 102 communities.
• Mobile food pantries operate in 68 communities, catering to areas without traditional pantry services, while the senior food pack program supports 989 seniors.
• The organization relies heavily on commercial food donations and volunteers to supplement its workforce of approximately 50 staff members, who cover various capacities including warehouse operations, volunteer management, and food distribution.
• In 2023, their trucks traveled 223,000 miles to deliver food, aided by 4,758 volunteers.

Community Impact:

• Impressively, 96% of the donations directly fund programs and services, benefitting 156,479 individuals, including 1 in 5 people and 1 in 3 children.
• Noteworthy programs include the school backpack program, serving 6,532 kids in 154 schools across 163 communities, and wellness pantries with 17 healthcare partners, providing food to those screened for food insecurity.
• A recent addition, the Kitchen Coalition in the Fargo-Moorhead area, pairs restaurants with local shelters to address food insecurity among the homeless population.
• Community impact stories showcase the profound effect of donations and volunteer efforts on those facing hunger, highlighted by the 223,000 miles covered by food trucks in 2023, facilitated by 4,758 dedicated volunteers, and the support provided to 989 seniors through the senior food pack program.

New Programs

• Wellness pantries: 17 healthcare providers will write a “prescription” for food insecure individuals to pick up food at that location.
• Kitchen Coalition:

Get Involved:

• To learn more or get involved, visit www.greatplainsfoodbank.org or contact Rebecca Knutson, Corporate Engagement Manager, at 701-476-9125 or rknutson@greatplainsfoodbank.org.