With the Thanksgiving holiday right around the corner, many people are busily preparing for their holiday feasts. Over the course of the next week, shopping lists will be compiled, the “good dishes” will be dug out of storage, and homes will be super-cleaned in anticipation of visiting family and friends. For some in the Red River Valley, however, the holidays are just another reminder of the harsh reality that they endure every day. According to Feeding America, the nation’s largest domestic hunger relief charity, millions of Americans will go without basic sustenance this holiday season, much less enjoy extravagant feasts.
Feed America estimates that 7.4% of North Dakota and 11.4% of Minnesota were categorized as “food insecure” in 2012. That means the approximately 50,400 North Dakotas and 607,920 Minnesotans did not know where they were going to find their next meal. Hunger is an issue throughout the United States each and every day. Unfortunately, for those who suffer, the holidays can cause the sting to hurt even more.
Fargo/Moorhead Emergency Food Pantry:
Greg Diehl is the new Administrator at the FM Emergency Food Pantry (EFP). “The mission of the Emergency Food Pantry is to provide referred families and individuals facing emergency situations with one week’s supply of healthy food,” Diehl explained, adding that the pantry has been operating throughout Fargo/Moorhead for over forty years. “The idea of the Emergency Food Pantry was born in a college class and it came to fruition in 1972 through the efforts of a college professor, Volunteers for Community Service, and the United Way.” In its first year of operation, 180 deliveries were made to 603 people. In 2012, 26,084 individuals representing 7,633 households received emergency food assistance from the EFP. According to Diehl, this represents 1,173,780 pounds of food delivered to those in need with a value of $1,760,670.
Fargo/Moorhead Dorothy Day House of Hospitality:
The Fargo-Moorhead Dorothy Day House of Hospitality (FMDDHH) is a caring, Christian community that shelters, nourishes, and empowers people who are homeless and hungry. FMDDHH has 3 programs, including: an emergency shelter, a primary food pantry, and a supplemental food pantry. “The primary food pantry is one of the largest in the state of Minnesota and supplies food to individuals and families,” explained Program Director, Sonja Ellner. “The supplemental food pantry, located in West Fargo, is our newest program. This site is open twice a week, and Daily Bread items are received and distributed.” According to Ellner, 1,070,614 pounds of food was distributed to 62,176 men, women, and children in Cass and Clay counties in 2012. 31% of the individuals served were children. “All of our programs continue to see steady increases,” Ellner said.
Economic and Political Concerns:
One thing that is going to have an impact on food pantries throughout the region is the upcoming changes to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) as the program’s boost from the 2009 Recovery Act expires. In 2012, 14% of all United States households received SNAP benefits, equating to almost 47 million people. According to the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities, the average drop in benefits will be between 5 and 6%. For a family of three, that will mean $29 less per month, or the equivalent of approximately sixteen meals according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Further cuts to the program have been proposed as part of the heavily debated farm bill.
In the Red River Valley, food pantries like the EFP and FMDDHH are bracing for an increased demand as a result of the cuts. “The SouthEastern North Dakota Community Action Agency, which refers families to Fargo/Moorhead food pantries, expects to see an increase of referrals within the first month the cuts take effect,” Diehl said. “If a family can’t get food on the table, at some point they’re going to have to make the choice between paying the rent and the electricity bills or putting food on the table.” Diehl would like to point out that only 57% of food insecure individuals are income-eligible for SNAP and 26% are not income-eligible for any federal food assistance. “As a result,” he explained, “regardless of what is happening with SNAP benefits, the Emergency Food Pantry is already and will continue to be busy providing food to individuals not receiving benefits from SNAP.”
Ellner has had similar experiences when it comes to the correlation between food pantry needs and the economy. “The general trend that we have seen is that increases in the cost of things like food and gas along with increases in the general cost of living are usually accompanied with very little or no increases in people’s wages,” Ellner explained. “This especially affects the elderly, people with disabilities, and others who have fixed incomes.”
The Season of Giving:
The holidays can be a stressful time for most people. Increased demands on time and money can lead even the calmest among us to feel frazzled. Now imagine those that feel like they are already starting from behind. Most people’s fondest holiday memories involve friends and family gathered around a holiday meal. Take that holiday meal away and one can visualize the reality for some in the region. “The holiday season is a busy time at food pantries, as many run special holiday dinner and Christmas basket initiatives,” Deihl explained. “The holidays are a time when cash-strapped members of our community may be balancing buying food with higher heating bills and the purchase of Christmas presents for their children.”
The Dorothy Day Food Pantry has seen a similar increase in need over the holidays. “We are especially busy around the holidays, as people want (and deserve to) have adequate food for a special meal with their families,” Ellner said. “In fact, last year, during the week of Thanksgiving, we served over 70-80 families each day. We try to provide turkeys or hams to families around the holidays.”
How You Can Help:
Food banks and pantries around the region can use your help. “We always have a need for food or monetary donations,” Ellner explained. “Some items that are often difficult to obtain are peanut butter, tuna, beans, or canned meat (i.e. items high in protein). Really though, we can use any nonperishable food item, including: soup, fruit, vegetables, crackers, cereal, juice, pasta, snacks, etc.” The Dorothy Day Pantry is also in need of volunteers. “Please contact Jim, the Food Pantry Coordinator, at 218-284-8895 or fmddh.foodpantry@702com.net to schedule a day/night that works best for you,” Ellner urges.
Food donations may be brought to the EFP location at 1101 4th Avenue North in Fargo. Monetary donations may be mailed to PO Box 2821, Fargo, ND 58108, or given through our website at www.emergencyfoodpantry.com.
Many people feel especially grateful during the holidays as family and friends gather to celebrate. During the upcoming season, consider helping those that are less fortunate. Together, the problem of hunger in our community can be eradicated. As Mother Theresa said, “If you can’t feed a hundred people, then feed just one.”
How You Can Help
