Jamestown ND (NDFU) – North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) today donated $500,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank (GPFB), a leading hunger-relief organization and the state’s only food bank. The sizeable contribution is dedicated to the relief agency’s Harvesting Hope Campaign, which is focused on building a new statewide distribution center to expand food access across the state.

“We are fortunate to be able to make this donation, which comes from the strength of our grassroots organization and our members – the hundreds of family farmers and ranchers who put food on our tables every day,” said North Dakota Farmers Union President Mark Watne. 

Farmers Union is a longtime partner of Great Plains Food Bank, recently donating 35,000 pounds of pork in September. NDFU is the state’s largest general farm organization, headquartered in Jamestown.

GPFB is a member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks working to end hunger across the nation. It works with a wide array of individuals and organizations to guide donated surplus food and grocery products to a network of food pantries, soup kitchens, emergency shelters and charitable feeding programs.

PHOTO CUTLINE: Pictured with NDFU President Mark Watne and the NDFU State Board of Directors are Marcia Paulson (at left), GPFB philanthropy officer, and Michelle Watne, Harvesting Hope Campaign honorary co-chair.