Volunteers gather to help pack food for Great Plains Food Bank’s annual Packathon

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — The Great Plains Food Bank had their second day of their annual Packathon on Wednesday.

Employees from sixteen area businesses came to the food bank to help pack beans and noodles into one pound bags to help stock area food pantries.

The volunteers have a friendly competition going to see who can pack the most pounds. At last check, Bremer Bank was in the lead with a little over 1,000 pounds.

The food bank purchased the noodles from a company in Casselton, while the beans were donated by a North Dakota farmer.

Great Plains Food Bank’s Corporate Engagement Manager Rebecca Knutson says volunteers are crucial to getting items that are purchased in bulk ready for food shelves at local pantries.

“We’re so thankful for our great, supportive community,” Knutson said. “All the organizations and businesses in our community know we can’t do it. We have to end hunger together, and our corporates and our business community really is a part of that.”

While the Packathon is all wrapped up here in Fargo, it will continue next week at the food bank’s Regional Distribution Center in Bismarck.