Great Plains Food Bank considering major changes for child hunger program

FARGO (KVRR) – Major funding changes appear likely for a program that fights childhood hunger by providing students with food to take home for meals on weekends.

The Great Plains Food Bank fully funds its “Backpack” program for students in Fargo, Moorhead and West Fargo, but other school districts served by the food bank cover the entire cost for themselves.

Great Plains Food Bank CEO Melissa Sobolik says the proposed changes would provide 50% of the cost of the program in every school it serves.

Some local schools that were fully funded are scrambling to make up the difference. But Sobolik says the new funding structure would be “more equitable” for the 155 schools that the Great Plains Food Bank serves.

West Fargo Public Schools’ Heather Leas says a meeting is planned this week to discuss ways to keep the program. Great Plains Food Bank also plans a meeting to further discuss these changes on Wednesday.

Counselors in the Fargo Public School District were also notified about the likely changes.

Sobolik says the Great Plains Food Bank is in a strong financial position and says the changes are designed to help keep it financially strong.

If the changes are adopted, Sobolik says they would go into effect January 1st, 2025.