FARGO, North Dakota -- Fargo Faith United Methodist Church started a Food Distribution Ministry on Fridays to meet the growing need of low income and homeless people in Fargo.  Each Friday about a dozen volunteers arrive to unload the food that is received from the Great Plain Food Bank.

The volunteers then sort the food and prepare the church to welcome guests who arrive at 4pm to “shop” for their groceries.  Guests are individually welcomed and assisted as they shop for their groceries for the week.  Approximately 75 families (225 people) are served each week.  Faith UMC also buys certain meat products that it distributes at least once a month to insure the guests have protein in their diet. 

Rev. Kevin Kloster says, “The highlight of my week is serving on Fridays and visiting with the many people who stop by for food. “Homelessness is on the rise in the Fargo area and many who come on Fridays are homeless.  The majority of the guests are the working poor who struggle to make ends meet.  After paying the rent and utilities there isn’t much money left for food.”

One guest said, “Without this ministry my family would have little to eat.  We are so grateful for this food!”