The Great Plains Food Bank is North Dakota’s only food bank and a leading hunger-relief organization. In partnership with food pantries, shelters, and feeding programs, we distribute millions of pounds of food each year to neighbors experiencing hunger in every county of North Dakota and Clay County, MN. Beyond distribution, we work upstream to address the root causes of food insecurity through advocacy, innovative programming, and collaboration. Alongside dedicated volunteers, generous donors, passionate advocates, and community champions, we work every day to serve and nourish our region.
The Great Plains Food Bank is a proud member of Feeding America, a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks working to end hunger across the country. This partnership connects us to even more surplus food, grocery donations, and funding from national campaigns. These resources strengthen our mission to ensure that we can end hunger, together.
Our Mission
Ending Hunger Together
Our VISION
Neighbors are nourished, communities are strong, and systems ensure no one is left behind.
Our Values
OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLES
Our guiding principles serve as a framework that shapes our behavior, decision-making, where we direct our resources, and our priorities with internal and external stakeholders.
PEOPLE-CENTERED
We design with (not for) our neighbors and partners.
EQUITY, DIVERSITY, AND INCLUSION
We champion understanding, acceptance, and respect among our team, stakeholders, and those we serve.
NUTRITION AND FOOD SAFETY
We source nutritious food and ensure food safety throughout the storage and distribution to our partner agencies and neighbors.
DATA-DRIVEN
We collect, utilize and maintain data to understand hunger’s effect on our neighbors in order to make informed decisions.
ORGANIZATIONAL EXCELLENCE
We advance our organization to new levels of resiliency and strength through enhanced skills, resources, efficiencies, and relationships
OUR STORY
We opened our doors as the Greater Fargo-Moorhead Area Food Bank on March 22, 1983. Since then, our work has grown to reach every corner of the state. In 2020, we expanded our reach by opening a Regional Service Center in Bismarck, strengthening our ability to serve western North Dakota communities.
FOLLOW THE FOOD
How our food gets to those in need.
Food Donors:
Each year, we recover over 12 million pounds of food from the food industry, growers and other food donors.
Volunteers:
More than 4,000 volunteers repack food to be distributed.
Food Distribution:
We distribute the food to a network of nearly 200 partner food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens help us feed all of North Dakota and Clay County, MN. We also operate direct service programs that recover and distribute food to combat hunger for children, seniors and families across our region.
Feeding Our Neighbors:
More than 160,000 individuals are served each year.