Great Plains Food Bank Archives

Feed the Hungry Tour Stops in Fargo

Richard Demers says that once he did research about how pervasive of a problem food insecurity is in the U.S. and Canada, he felt he had to do something to combat the phenomenon.

19 hours ago

Gabriel Ostler,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) – The Fargo Air Museum is known for, well, its classic aircrafts. But on September 3rd, it hosted a different kind of vintage conveyance for a very special cause. Richard Demers grew passionate about fighting hunger after seeing the problem up close in his native Canada, and decided to hop behind the wheel of his 1932 Dodge DK8…

Sparklight Gives $5,000 Grant To West Fargo Eats

July 15, 2025

Jim Monk,

WEST FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — There’s some good news for a local group that works to fight hunger. Sparklight presented a $5,000 check to West Fargo Eats. The partnership between Lutheran Church of the Cross, Gate City Bank, YWCA Cass Clay, and Great Plains Food Bank offers a unique shopping and drive-thru style experience for clients. The director says the…

Great Plains Food Bank Campaigning To Protect Snap Funding

Great Plains Food Bank campaigns against SNAP cuts

June 25, 2025

Alex Bertsch,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — With federal cuts looming, the Great Plains Food Bank is putting out a call for help this morning. The current budget reconcilliation bill, also known as the “big beautiful bill” contains cuts to multiple food programs including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP. The food bank says that if funding for these benefits is cut,…

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

June 4, 2025

Eric Bolin,

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….

Great Plains Food Bank Receives Donation of Nearly 40,000 Pounds of Mac and Cheese

May 30, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — It was a cheesy dream for the Great Plains Food Bank as nearly 40,000 pounds of macaroni and cheese were donated by Land O’Lakes. The macaroni will be available to Great Plains 196 partner food pantries, soup kitchens, and shelters across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota. The donation comes at a time when many food…

Great Plains Food Bank Future Federal Funds Uncertain But Programs Still Running

May 27, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Federal cuts to food programs are leaving food pantries like Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo uncertain about future funding. Earlier this year, Great Plains announced it had lost about $1.3 million in funding and food. The food bank then shifted avenues on where they received fresh produce and meat. But the wait for the vote…

Federal cuts affect regional food access; more uncertainty to come

May 27, 2025

KVRR Staff,

Ashley Baker, strategic initiatives coordinator at the Great Plains Food Bank, stocks food in a wellness pantry. (Courtesy of Great Plains Food Bank)FARGO (North Dakota Monitor) — Proposed cuts to the federal food assistance program are coming at a time when agencies addressing hunger in North Dakota are already facing lost revenue and increased need. “There’s a lot of uncertainty…

Great Plains Food Bank CEO Resigning

May 19, 2025

KVRR Staff,

FARGO (KVRR-KFGO) – The CEO of the Great Plains Food Bank is resigning. Melissa Sobolik is leaving to become the CEO of the Rhode Island Community Food Bank in Providence, Rhode Island. Sobolik has been with Great Plains Food Bank for 18 years, and has been CEO for the last 4. Her last day is July 11, 2025. “Serving as…

Great Plains Food Bank Says Their Statewide Partnership With Farmers Is Uncertain

March 17, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — Since launching in 2021, 7,900 food banks, food pantries, and communities in the U.S. have purchased food through two programs available through the USDA, the Local Food Purchase Assistance Cooperative Agreement and the Local Food for Schools. But now those programs are being canceled. “We have received about a million dollars through that program over the…

Hornbachers Presents Check To Great Plains Food Bank From Holiday Donations

January 29, 2025

Juliana Pelaez,

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) —Hornbacher’s presents Great Plains Food Bank with a donation of over $49,000 as part of its annual Feed Hope campaign. Each year Hornbacher’s customers make donations during the month of December. What started in 2011 has now raised over $1 million and a total of over two million meals served. The donation this year will be able…