Bill would help support the state’s only food bank
Ann Estvold, NDNA Legislative Intern
Great Plains Food Bank, which is the only food bank in the state, is looking to build a new distribution facility in Fargo to better serve the needs of North Dakotans who are experiencing food insecurity. HB 1143 would grant $10 million to the organization to be used to help build their new warehouse.
Great Plains Food Bank has distribution centers in Bismarck and Fargo, and has partnerships with 196 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters throughout North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota. The Fargo distribution center is the main hub for the organization. It serves about 100 communities whose residents lack access to a sufficient food supply.
“This includes rural towns, tribal nations and urban centers, ensuring everyone has access to nutritious food,” said Darby Njos, a spokeswoman for Great Plains Food Bank.
The Great Plains Food Bank receives food from farmers, growers and other donors, and is supplied food from industry sources that otherwise would go to waste. The organization then distributes the food to pantries and soup kitchens.
“Currently our biggest hurdle is inadequate infrastructure to recover and distribute the volume of food necessary to meet the needs of our neighbors,” said Njos.
The current Fargo facility needs maintenance and is expected to outgrow its current location within eight years, said Melissa Sobolik, the chief execu-tive officer of Great Plains Food Bank. In October, Great Plains Food Bank purchased nine acres of land in Fargo to build their new facility, which is planned for about 70,500 square feet. It would have an allergen-free repacking room and volunteer and community space. It would also increase space for storage, including room for refrigerated and frozen goods. It should be sufficient to support the organization for another 40 to 50 years, said Sobolik.
The organization has about one-third of the money it needs for the new facility, said Sobolik. So far, its state funding has been limited to $1 million in 2024 to buy local foods. Most of Great Plains’ financial support comes from government grants and local donations.
The Great Plains Food Bank was opened as the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Area Food Bank in 1983 and has expanded to serve 196 food pantries, soup kitchens and shelters throughout North Dakota. The organization has warehouses in Fargo and Bismarck.
The food bank also provides programs to support school-age children, summer meals, “senior food boxes” for older customers, and mobile food pantries.