Pictured (from left) Judy Holmen; Brent Brandt, development director for Churches United for the Homeless; pantry manager Suzanne Hamel; director of nutrition services Julio Villamil; Sparklight’s Jay Macleod; James Swailes, Sparklight relationship manager; and Jim Manly. (Photo/Nancy Hanson)

Nancy Edmonds Hanson

The process of picking up food donations at the Dorothy Day Food Pantry in Moorhead will be easier and quicker in days to come, thanks to a donation from Sparklight of Fargo.

The internet provider has presented the Moorhead food pantry — as well as its West Fargo location — with Microsoft Surface computers, software, ID card printers and scanners to speed up registration of clients. The donated equipment was presented last week by James Swiles, relationship manager, and general manager Jay Macleod.

Pantry manager Suzanne Hamel says it will replace time-consuming paper-and-pencil sign-ups, which have been made more cumbersome by pandemic restrictions. Now cards, once issued, will simply be scanned as clients request their monthly food boxes. (Requests may be made weekly at Dorothy Day’s location in Church of the Holy Cross in West Fargo.