North Dakota – The ongoing federal government shutdown is continuing to impact neighbors seeking food assistance, including families who rely on SNAP to feed their children, federal employees missing paychecks, seniors on fixed incomes, and others whose budgets are already stretched thin.

The Great Plains Food Bank is taking action to help ensure families across North Dakota and Clay County, MN continue to have the support they need to keep food on the table. To meet the surge in demand expected in the weeks ahead, the Great Plains Food Bank is working to raise the funds needed to source and distribute an additional one million pounds of food across its service area.

Thanks to Governor Kelly Armstrong and the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), $915,000 in contingency funds has been directed to the Great Plains Food Bank to supply and support its direct service programs and network of nearly 200 partner food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens statewide. These state dollars will allow the Great Plains Food Bank to purchase and distribute an additional 450,000 pounds of food in November — enough to assist approximately 24,000 households on top of its regularly scheduled routes and distributions.

“These funds are already being put to work,” shared Kate Molbert, Interim CEO of the Great Plains Food Bank. “Our team has been able to add 16 additional mobile food pantry routes this month, bringing the total to 25 stops in November, and we’re continuing to support our 196 partner food pantries and tribal nations with additional food to meet the growing need. But we know the need is great.”

The Great Plains Food Bank is also coordinating closely with state and local partners to monitor the situation and ensure food access remains consistent for all who need it.

This is a moment for our community to stand together,” said Molbert. “We’re deeply grateful for the state’s support, but we know it will take all of us to meet this challenge. Every dollar, every donated food item, every helping hand makes a real difference. When we act quickly and compassionately, we can ensure our neighbors don’t have to choose between paying for medicine, rent, or heat, and putting food on the table.”

To find support or to get involved, community members can:

Donate: Visit GreatPlainsFoodBank.org and click on our website banner to make a gift toward the emergency goal. Every dollar helps provide food for two meals for neighbors in need.

Give Locally: Community members can also host food drives or support their local food pantry.

Get Help: Anyone in need of food assistance can find resources at their local pantries or at one of our food distributions. Learn more at GreatPlainsFoodBank.org/Government-Shutdown.