Generous donation to impact hungry children, seniors and families across N.D. and western Minn.
FARGO, N.D. – The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) made a difference in the fight to end hunger Wednesday by donating a semi-truck load of food to the Great Plains Food Bank. The donation totaled 40,000 pounds of a mix of pasta, protein and other items that will provide a variety of foods for hungry neighbors.
The donation will immediately be put to use helping feed those in need across North Dakota and Clay County, Minn., through the Great Plains Food Bank’s range of programs and services. The Great Plains Food Bank is the only food bank in the state of North Dakota working with a network of 200 partner food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens throughout the region.
Longtime champions in the fight to end hunger as volunteers and food and financial donors, the food provided Wednesday by LDS was all grown, processed and delivered by the church.
“The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints believes everyone should have access to adequate food and nutrition and is anxious to help in this effort whenever possible,” said Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints Stake President Jerry Cook. “This is often done by partnering with agencies across the globe and in local communities. We are grateful for the tremendous efforts of the Great Plains Food Bank and Dorothy Day Food Pantry in fighting hunger in North Dakota and western Minnesota. We are happy to join with both of them in this effort through this donation.”
Additionally, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints will be making another donation of around 40,000 pounds of food to the Dorothy Day Food Pantry, which serves as a partner agency of the Great Plains Food Bank, at a date yet to be determined this summer.
The donation comes at a crucial time for many as hunger currently impacts one in six individuals throughout North Dakota. In 2022, the Great Plains Food Bank provided needed food assistance to nearly 140,000 individuals, which was a 14 percent increase over 2021.

Martha Olsen (left) from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and Jerry Cook (right), stake president for the church, stand next to a 40,000-pound food donation made to the Great Plains Food Bank Wednesday. The donation from the church included a mix of pasta, protein and other items and will immediately help feed those in need