Foundation Awards $44,000 in Emergency Relief Grants, Supporting 22 Regional Organizations

The Community Foundation of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Region announces the allocation of $44,000 in emergency grants from its Nonprofit Relief Fund to help address food insecurity across our region. These funds will support 22 local food pantries and nonprofit organizations with $2,000 grants each, serving communities in Grand Forks, Walsh, and Polk Counties.

“With so many families facing new financial strain, especially after changes to SNAP benefits, we felt it was important to act without delay,” said Becca Baumbach, President & CEO of the Community Foundation. “Our local food pantries and nonprofits know how to get resources directly to those who need them most. This is a moment for us to show what community looks like when we pull together — and we invite others to join us in helping meet this urgent need.”

Why The Support Matters

• In Grand Forks County, ND, approximately 3,959 individuals received SNAP benefits in 2022.
•  The food insecurity rate in Grand Forks County was estimated at 8.6% in 2022, indicating that nearly 1 in 12 residents may face challenges accessing enough food.
• At the state level, North Dakota had about 48,700 people receiving SNAP benefits monthly in FY 2024 - about 6.1% of the state’s population.
• In Minnesota, nearly 454,000 residents received SNAP benefits monthly in FY 2024 - about 7.8 % of the state’s population.
• With inflation, heating/cooling costs, and transportation barriers impacting many households, the combination of benefits freezes and rising needs is creating a heightened demand on local food systems.

Recipients
Grants will be provided to the following organizations:

• Polk County
  • East Grand Forks Food Shelf
  • Care & Share/New Hope Food Shelf
  • Climax Parish Food Shelf
  • Fertile Beltrami Area Food Shelf
  • Grace Lutheran Community Food Shelf
  • Loaves & Fishes Food Shelf
  • New American Integration Center
  • Nutrition Services Incorporated
• Grand Forks County
  • Emerado Food Pantry
  • Freedom Church Food Shelf
  • Global Friends Coalition
  • Grand Forks Senior Center
  • HC Community Care & Food Pantry
  • Larimore Food Pantry
  • Northlands Rescue Mission
  • Northwood Food Pantry
  • Salvation Army
  • St. Joseph’s Social Care
  • Thompson Community Food Pantry
  • United Way of Grand Forks, East Grand Forks & Area – Backpack Program
• Walsh County
  • Park River Area Food Pantry
  • Walsh County Food Pantry

Grant Purpose & Impact
The $2,000 grants to each food pantry/nonprofit are intended to:

• Support the purchase of fresh produce, dairy items, culturally relevant foods, and shelf-stable staples.
• Expand hours or outreach to meet growing demand (including first-time food pantry users).
• Provide flexibility for organizations to address immediate operational or supply-chain constraints.

Join the Effort
The Community Foundation encourages individuals, businesses and philanthropic donors to join in strengthening local food security efforts. Contributions to the Foundation’s Nonprofit Relief Fund ensure that resources are available when critical emergencies arise – allowing the Foundation to respond swiftly when neighbors face unexpected hardship.

To donate or learn more, visit gofoundation.org/relief or contact the Community Foundation office at [email protected].