Parrell’s Perspectives 2025 #10 — Great Plains Food Bank “A Generous Appropriation”

The Great Plains Food Bank, located in Fargo, is the state's only food bank and a leading hunger-relief organization. Established in 1983, it serves communities across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, by recovering surplus food and distributing it through a network of over 200 partner agencies, including food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens. In 2023, the Great Plains Food Bank distributed over 13.4 million pounds of food, providing more than 11 million meals. That is an incredible record by any standards.

The Food Bank, an older facility located on a former landfill site, is planned for a new location and facility that will greatly enhance its efficiencies in storage and delivery of food throughout the state. Of the total costs, it is raising approximately $20 million through non-state sources and is requesting $10 million from the legislature in HB 1143 to complete the new facility.

Our farmers and ranchers are an important part of the Food Bank's mission and programs, as the Food Bank collaborates with local farmers and producers to provide food to local communities, whether by planting extra rows or acres for donation, including commodities like beans, grains, corn, and beef.

The Senate has passed with this legislation, HB 1143, decreasing the $10 million to $5 million. The Senate passed this Bill, increasing the funding back to the $10 million requested by the Food Bank and bill sponsors. The Bill is now in conference committee and neither the House members nor the Senate members of the committee have flinched after two meetings. My glaringly obvious prediction is that the committee will agree on $7.5 million, and both chambers will ultimately agree.

Regardless of the ultimate funding amount, this legislature's generosity in ensuring food security speaks volumes about the priorities and commitment of legislators in both chambers to address hunger in North Dakota. Kudos to our legislature. Additionally, a huge "thank you" to the Food Bank and its staff and volunteers, as well as their donors, for their contributions to an incredible program that touches so many children and families in ways most of us cannot imagine.