North Dakota food bank issues urgent plea for donations amid shutdown

A Fargo-based food bank that serves North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, sent out a plea for donations Monday, urging the public to help it address a rise in food insecurity spurred by the federal government shutdown.

“Ripple effects of the government shutdown are hitting home,” the Great Plains Food Bank said in the announcement. “Federal employees are living without paychecks and SNAP recipients may be forced to find other ways to feed their families.”

The food bank has set a goal of distributing an additional 1 million pounds of food, on top of the 1 million pounds it already sends out every month.

“We are hoping in the next roughly two months or so that we can raise that amount of food and start moving it out the door right now so that we can get that into the hands of our partner pantries,” spokesperson Darby Njos said.

She said while it’s too early to assess the full scope of the impact, the organization is already noticing an increase in demand.

“We’re just in the beginning stages of federal workers missing their first paycheck, and not knowing what’s happening to SNAP,” Njos said.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits will be paused Saturday if the federal government is still shut down after Friday.

While the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services has said it has the funds to continue the program, officials last week said the state is unable to load the money onto people’s electronic payment cards.

Some other states, including Louisiana, have announced plans to set aside state money to keep SNAP benefits available to their residents during the shutdown.

More than 57,000 North Dakotans received roughly $9.9 million in SNAP benefits in September.

Njos said the Great Plains Food Bank encourages monetary contributions, but also accepts food donations.

“We are in a special spot as a food bank, we are able to stretch those dollars farther,” she said. “Every dollar that we are able to take in, we’re able to provide two meals to our neighbors in need.”

The Great Plains Food Bank accepts monetary donations online. Those who wish to give food can also learn more on the nonprofit’s website. The most requested items are fruits, vegetables, protein and dairy, Njos said.

The Great Plains Food Bank also encourages North Dakotans to give food directly to their local food pantries, she added.

For updates on North Dakota SNAP benefits, visit hhs.nd.gov/applyforhelp or contact the department’s customer support center at 1-866-614-6005.