More than 34 million people in the U.S. face hunger or lack access to healthy food. Closer to home, nearly one in every 10 adults in the Dakotas and Minnesota have reported there is sometimes or often not enough to eat for their household. There are people in every one of our communities who face the very real struggle to make ends meet and provide for their families. Some of our beloved United Methodist siblings are likely among them.    

Let us come together to make a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors in need. Bishop Lanette Plambeck invites you to join her in participating in a Dakotas-Minnesota Area 2023 Thanksgiving Offering: Five and Two—as in the story of Jesus taking five loaves of bread and two fish and feeding 5,000.
 
What might it look like for every United Methodist in the Dakotas and Minnesota to give at least $5 to two food ministries this Thanksgiving season? Those who are able can provide more—perhaps $52 to a food ministry of your choice. However you choose to work out the math and whatever amount you’re able to give, imagine the impact we will make in our schools, our communities, and our neighborhoods. 
 
Each faith community across our area is also encouraged to choose a local organization that reaches individuals and families facing food insecurity—and to explore how to partner to meet local needs. Could you assemble meals for schools to send home with food-insecure children on weekends to feed their families? Might you create and stock a makeshift food pantry that sits in front of your church? Perhaps you could find out which types of food items are most needed at your local food pantry and challenge the congregation to see how many they can bring on a given Sunday.

Prayerfully consider how you and your congregation will participate, and then let us know so we can celebrate our collective impact!

Read letter from Bishop Lanette Plambeck |  Complete Thankgiving Offering pledge form | Access resources