Food distribution with the Great Plains mobile food pantry.

“During the pandemic, we have helped to distribute over 80,000 pounds of food,” said Rev. Dayne Zachrison, who serves at Epworth United Methodist Church in Valley City, North Dakota.  Since 2019, the congregation partners with Great Plains Food Bank 's mobile food pantry  to distribute boxes of food. 

“Great Plain Food Bank brings the food and people to load the boxes in the vehicles. Members of Epworth manage the check-in and traffic,” said Rev. Dayne Zachrison.

At the most recent food distribution, 525 households received food. The food giveaway will help feed 630 adults and 387 children. 

Epworth UMC also provides food to children in elementary schools through a backpack program and hosts a food pantry at the middle school and high school in Valley City. There are 30 students at the high school and middle school who receive food regularly from the food pantries. At the elementary level, 143 students receive a backpack each week. 

“We partner with Great Plain Food Bank to serve more than 160 children each week through the Backpack Program and the food pantries at the middle school and high school,” said Zachrison. “The backpacks are being delivered by the Great Plains Food Bank to our church.  We deliver the backpacks to the buildings during the school year.”

Another food ministry at Epworth is the Open Table. On the last Tuesday of the month, a meal is prepared and served. People can stay and eat the meal or take it as a “to-go” meal.

Photos from Epworth UMC's Facebook page.

Zachrison shares, “We have been doing the Open Table for several years. It was suspended during the COVID pandemic. We have started serving the meal again. We have been back for the past two months. We are struggling to get people back. We were serving about 60 people each month but now serve about 40.”

Marketing for the food ministries happens through social media, signs, and posters throughout the community and word-of-mouth. There is a regular group of volunteers that help with each of the outreach hunger ministries.

“We have a key group of 10-12 people that regularly help with the Open Table. There is a different group that helps with the food distributions. There is another group that delivers backpacks,” Pastor Dayne said.

The congregation hopes to increase the number of people that attend the Open Table. Epworth UMC also receives boxes of food, staple supplies from the Great Plains Food Bank.  In turn, Epworth distributes food staples to people in the community needing to fill the gaps between the food distributions and what is available at the local food pantry.

“We are trying to fill the gaps and feed the hungry. We value our partnership with the Great Plains Food Pantry. Epworth is excited and talking about the 2021 Miracle Offering that will help support the Great Plains Food Bank,” said Zachrison.

Your donation to the 2021 Miracle Offering can grow. Great Plains Food Bank of North Daktoa will receive one-third of the funds collected for the 2021 Miracle Offering: Feeding the Dakotas.  Great Plains Food Bank will match the gift, up to $25,000 . The goal is to raise $75,000, giving $25,000 to the Great Plains Food Bank.  Make plans now and prepare your heart to give to the 2021 Miracle Offering. 

Watch this video to see how the Great Plains Food Bank of North Dakota impacts the lives of people.
 

Who is the Great Plains Food Bank helping?