The Great Plains Food Bank Celebrates 3rd Annual Pack-A-Thon!

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Feeding America, a nationwide network of food banks, has named September Hunger Action Month.
 
To kick off the month, the Great Plains Food Bank is hosting its 3rd annual Pack-A-Thon.

KVRR’s Brittany Ford has just how many meals they are expecting to pack this year.
 
At the Great Plains Food Bank, September is a special month to celebrate something that they do every day.

Hunger Action Month is a campaign that the organization participates in to bring awareness to hunger, and how it affects more people than what some might realize.
 
“These folks, who are hardworking, educated, but they are struggling to make ends meet,” said Marsha Paulson Great Plains Director of Marketing.
 
The Great Plains Food Bank has partnered with 24 local businesses in addition to civic clubs and families who have all offered to volunteer an hour of their time to pack meals.
 
“This is one way we can engage the community…they can feel great about what they’re doing, and together we can change lives,” says Marsha Paulson, Great Plains Director of Marketing.

Over the two day Pack-A-Thon, the Great Plains Food Bank has set a goal to pack 50,000 meals.
 
The pre-packing efforts by volunteers and businesses make it easier for the bank to distribute more food.

It is also is an opportunity for companies to practice team building, and boost morale.
 
“I think it’s fun to get out of the office, away from all the duties. The regular daily duties and just something that is lighthearted,” said Matt Engen of Merrill Lynch.
 
“Just something you want to do as a community, pull together and support people less fortunate. I mean if I have two coats someone else has zero I mean I’d want to give them one of them.,” said Mike Logan of Border State Electrical Supply.
 
The food bank has more than 300 volunteers signed up to help them reach their goal, and bring them closer to ending hunger in North Dakota.
Brittany Ford, KVRR News.
 
1 in 9 people in North Dakota have sought emergency food services.

37 percent of those people have been children.