What Nonprofits Does the Great Plains Food Bank Work With?
As North Dakota and western Minnesota continue to face rising food insecurity, the Great Plains Food Bank stands at the center of a vast, quietly powerful network working to ensure no neighbor goes hungry. As the region’s only food bank, Great Plains Food Bank partners with hundreds of local nonprofits, food pantries, shelters, and community
As North Dakota and western Minnesota continue to face rising food insecurity, the Great Plains Food Bank stands at the center of a vast, quietly powerful network working to ensure no neighbor goes hungry. As the region’s only food bank, Great Plains Food Bank partners with hundreds of local nonprofits, food pantries, shelters, and community organizations to distribute nutritious food to families, seniors, and children across more than 40 counties. Beyond simply moving food, the organization plays a critical coordinating role-leveraging large-scale sourcing, nutrition programs, and community partnerships to strengthen the capacity of frontline nonprofits and expand access to healthy meals. This article takes a closer look at the Great Plains Food Bank and some of the nonprofit partners Great Plains Food Bank uses to carry out its critical mission.
Farm in the Del of the Red River Valley
The Partnership:
CNH Industrial’s Case IH plant in Fargo has a commitment to “feed their own backyard” by partnering with local organizations that grow and distribute food. In these efforts, Great Plains Food Bank partners with Farm in the Dell to plant, maintain, and harvest fresh vegetables to then distribute to neighbors in need.
About Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley
Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley is a unique nonprofit dedicated to providing meaningful agricultural and therapeutic experiences for individuals with developmental disabilities. By combining hands-on farming, gardening, and animal care with vocational training, the organization fosters independence, skill-building, and personal growth. Participants have the opportunity to engage in real-world farm work, develop social connections, and contribute to the local food system, all within a supportive and inclusive environment.
Through its programs, Farm in the Dell not only nurtures confidence and self-sufficiency but also strengthens ties between the community and individuals with disabilities, creating a space where everyone can thrive.
farminthedellrrv.org
Facebook | /farminthedellrrv
Instagram | @farminthedellrrv
The Great North Pole
The Partnership:
The Great Plains Food Bank is able to use its purchasing power as a food bank to provide bulk food at a discounted rate for The Great North Pole’s annual giving event that takes place in December.
About the Great North
Pole The Great North Pole is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit based in West Fargo, dedicated to supporting children and families in need in Cass and Clay Counties, especially during the holiday season. The organization partners with generous donors, corporate sponsors, schools, local nonprofits, and hundreds of volunteers to assemble and distribute “Helpful Holiday Boxes” filled with essential items—including winter clothing, personal care products, food, and gifts—to families facing financial stress. Their work aims to provide warmth, reduce the burden of seasonal expenses, and help families experience the joy and spirit of Christmas. The Great North Pole’s efforts also include fundraising events like an annual gala and communitywide initiatives that expand their impact across the region each December
thegreatnorthpole.org
Facebook | /theGreatNorthPole
Instagram | @thegreatnorthpole
Partnership Types
Most partnerships with the Great Plains Food Bank fall under a number of categories. Including:
Retail Rescue Partners
The Great Plains Food Bank’s Retail Rescue Initiative is when a grocery store, retailer, or food business donates safe, surplus food to the Great Plains Food Bank instead of sending it to waste. Through this partnership, food such as fresh produce, dairy, bakery items, and shelf-stable items is recovered and redistributed to local food pantries and meal programs. Retail Rescue partners play a critical role in reducing food waste, strengthening local communities, and helping ensure more families have access to nutritious food.
Partner Food Pantrys
A Great Plains Food Bank partner food pantry is a trusted, community-based organization that works alongside the organization to ensure neighbors have consistent access to nutritious food. These pantries serve individuals and families facing food insecurity by offering food distribution in their local communities. Through this partnership, a pantry receives access to food, resources, and support.
Kitchen Coalition Programs
Kitchen Coalition serves up well-balanced, freshly prepared meals and a whole new way to fight hunger. We know that not everyone facing hunger has the home, health, or ability to use the groceries our food bank or partner pantries offer. The Great Plains Food Bank has partnered with a few local restaurants and caterers that turn food bank ingredients into nutritious, freshly prepared meals to be delivered to community partners that help distribute to neighbors.
Meal Site Partner
A Great Plains Food Bank meal site partner is a community organization that prepares and serves free, nutritious meals to neighbors facing food insecurity. Working in partnership with the Great Plains Food Bank, meal sites receive food and support to help provide welcoming, reliable meal services in community settings. These partners help ensure neighbors have access to ready-to-eat meals while fostering connection, dignity, and care within their communities.
Pop-Up Distributions
Pop-up distributions bring fresh and shelf-stable food to locations across the metro area to support partner pantries in the demand for food access. These drive-through events are open to everyone, where volunteers load a variety of food items that may include shelf-stable items, produce, dairy, meat, and more directly into your vehicle. A Pop-Up Pantry champion is a community organization, school, or business that provides space and local support for a temporary food distribution in partnership with the Great Plains Food Bank. Champions help identify local needs, promote the event, and assist with ensuring the event is successful.
West Fargo Eats
The Partnership:
Partner Pantry + Retail Resuce Receiver
About West Fargo Eats
West Fargo Eats is a collaborative hunger‑relief nonprofit that brings dignity, choice, and food security to individuals and families facing food insecurity in West Fargo and the surrounding region. What began in 2020 as a seasonal pop‑up food pantry out of a refrigerated truck has grown into a permanent Food Share Alliance, formed through a partnership between Lutheran Church of the Cross, Gate City Bank, YWCA Cass Clay, and the Great Plains Food Bank. West Fargo Eats offers a shopping‑style pantry experience, drive‑thru distributions, and monthly food distributions that include nutritious staples like canned goods, fresh produce, dairy and protein items, and hygiene products—all provided with respect and empowerment for the community it serves. Volunteers and partner support help make food access more equitable, and the organization continues to meet growing needs with outreach, retail rescue pickups, and community engagement throughout the year.
lcc-wf.com/west-fargo-eats
Facebook | /westfargoeats
A Place for Hope
The Partnership:
Partner Pantry + Retail Rescue Receiver
About A Place For Hope
A Place For Hope in the Fargo‑Moorhead area is a community‑based nonprofit that offers vital support to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity and social isolation. Best known locally for its food shelf, the organization provides scheduled food distributions—serving hundreds of families and thousands of pounds of groceries each month—to help neighbors facing financial hardship supplement their household needs. In addition to food assistance, A Place For Hope hosts a recovery and wellness center where adults can find social support, life enrichment activities, and opportunities to build connections in a welcoming environment. This includes peer mentoring, educational resources, and access to basic necessities like snacks, household goods, and hygiene items, all aimed at enhancing overall well‑being and reducing isolation.
aplace4hope.org
Facebook | /thesocialconnextion
Don’t Forget About Fill The Dome!
Fill The Dome is a long‑standing, student‑driven hunger‑relief initiative in the Fargo‑Moorhead area that brings the community together each fall to combat food insecurity. Launched in 2007 by the Metro Area Student Ambassadors, the event began with a bold goal: cover the floor of the FARGODOME with donated food to benefit local families in need. Over nearly two decades, more than 50 area schools have participated, collecting millions of pounds of non‑perishable food and raising substantial funds that support the Great Plains Food Bank’s mission to fight hunger across the region. In addition to food and monetary donations, Fill The Dome raises awareness about local hunger needs and empowers young leaders to make a tangible impact, with collected items distributed through food pantries, direct community distributions, and partner agencies.
New Life Center
The Partnership:
Partner Meal Site + Retail Rescue Receiver
About New Life Center
New Life Center is a long‑standing Fargo nonprofit mission dedicated to helping men experiencing homelessness and crisis move from surviving to thriving through a combination of emergency services, community support, and transformational programs. Founded in 1907, the organization offers daily free meals, an emergency shelter, case management, life‑skills and recovery programs, and housing assistance rooted in compassion and the love of Christ. In addition to direct care services, New Life Center’s work includes specialized support such as long‑term recovery programs, veteran housing assistance in partnership with the Fargo VA, and opportunities for community engagement through volunteer roles and its thrift store, New Life Center Thrift Store, which helps fund its mission while offering affordable goods.
fargonlc.org
Facebook | /FargoNLC
Instagram | @fargonlc
YMCA of the Northern Sky
The Partnership:
Pop-up Pantry Champion
About the YMCA of the Northern Sky
YMCA of the Northern Sky is a nonprofit community organization dedicated to strengthening the spirit, mind, and body of individuals and families across the Fargo‑Moorhead‑West Fargo region and beyond. Rooted in the YMCA’s mission of youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility, the Y provides a wide range of programs and services that support people of all ages and backgrounds—regardless of income or ability to pay. These offerings include child care and early learning centers, before‑and‑after‑school programs, summer camps, youth sports and aquatics, adult fitness and wellness opportunities, and community outreach initiatives that promote inclusion and well‑being. The organization also partners with community resources to address food insecurity through meal programs and seasonal assistance, and hosts initiatives like the YMCA Giving Tree to help families in need during the holidays. Through these efforts, YMCA of the Northern Sky fosters a welcoming environment where neighbors can connect, grow, and thrive together.
ymcanorthernsky.org
Facebook | /YMCANorthernSky
Instagram | @ymcanorthernsky
Immigrant Development Center
The Partnership:
Partner Pantry + Retail Rescue Receiver
About Immigrant Development Center
Immigrant Development Center (IDC) in the Fargo‑Moorhead area is a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering immigrants, refugees, and other new Americans to achieve economic self‑sufficiency and fully contribute to their communities. Since its founding in 2003, IDC has offered a broad range of services aimed at overcoming barriers faced by newcomers—including business incubation and entrepreneurial support, micro‑lending, workforce development, translation and interpretation services, and technical assistance for navigating systems and accessing essential resources. The organization also partners with the Great Plains Food Bank to provide regular food distributions and supports educational programs that build financial literacy, job‑ready skills, and confidence in participants. Through these efforts and its work to foster inclusive economic and cultural spaces like the International Market Plaza, IDC strengthens both individual opportunity and the broader social fabric of the region.
Facebook | /ImmigrantDevelopmentCenter
Instagram | @immigrant_development_center
Youthworks
The Partnership:
Partner Pantry + Retail Rescue Receiver
About Youthworks
Youthworks of North Dakota in Fargo is a nonprofit organization committed to supporting at‑risk, homeless, runaway, and otherwise vulnerable young people and their families throughout the Fargo‑Moorhead area and across North Dakota. Operating since 1986, Youthworks provides a wide range of direct services designed to help youth under 22 find safety, stability, and hope—from emergency shelter and crisis intervention to street outreach, drop‑in support, counseling, and transitional housing for young adults. The organization also offers school‑based programs, family counseling, case management, and targeted services such as anti‑human‑trafficking support, diversion programs, and cultural initiatives that foster belonging and positive development. Through these comprehensive efforts, Youthworks creates safe places for youth to be heard, connected, and empowered to build stronger, more independent futures.
youthworksnd.org
Facebook | /youthworksND
Instagram | @youthworksnd
Jeremiah Program
The Partnership:
Kitchen Coalition Program
About Jeremiah Program
Jeremiah Program – Fargo‑Moorhead is a nonprofit dedicated to disrupting the cycle of generational poverty for single mothers and their children through a proven two‑generation approach that supports both parent and child simultaneously. At its Fargo campus, the organization provides safe, affordable housing, high‑quality early childhood education, and one‑on‑one coaching that helps mothers pursue career‑track college degrees and build economic stability without sacrificing care and opportunity for their children. By combining education, life skills development, leadership support, and community resources, Jeremiah Program empowers families to achieve long‑term success and break barriers that too often keep women and their children in poverty.
jeremiahprogram.org
Facebook | /JeremiahProgramFargoMoorhead
Instagram | @jeremiah_fargomoohead
Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP)
The Partnership:
Kitchen Coalition Program
About the Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP)
Lakes & Prairies Community Action Partnership (CAPLP) is a regional nonprofit and certified Community Action Agency committed to eliminating poverty, empowering families, and engaging communities through a holistic network of programs and services. Guided by the national Promise of Community Action, CAPLP works across multiple areas including Head Start early childhood education, economic empowerment and workforce development, housing stability and homelessness prevention, child care support and connections, financial coaching, and health and nutrition assistance. Its comprehensive approach helps children, families, seniors, and individuals facing financial hardship build stability, access resources, and achieve long‑term success. By addressing the root causes of poverty and fostering community partnerships, CAPLP plays a vital role in strengthening the well‑being and opportunities of residents throughout the Moorhead and surrounding region.
caplp.org
Facebook | /CAPLPLakesAndPrairies
Heart-N-Soul Community Cafe
The Partnership:
Kitchen Coalition Catering Partner
About the Heart-N-Soul Community Café
Heart‑N‑Soul Community Café is a Fargo‑based nonprofit dedicated to addressing food insecurity and fostering community connection through shared, nourishing meals served with dignity. Operating with a “pay‑what‑you‑can” model, the café ensures that everyone—regardless of income—can enjoy fresh, locally sourced and nutritious food, whether they contribute what they’re able, pay it forward, volunteer their time, or simply come for a meal.
heartnsoulcafe.com
Facebook | /HeartnSoulCommunityCafe
Instagram | @heart_n_soulcommunitycafe
greatplainsfoodbank.org
Facebook | /GreatPlainsFoodBank
Instagram | @greatplainsfoodbank
Published February 5, 2026
