Forty-one years ago, the Great Plains Food Bank was established in response to increasing needs for food assistance, while grocery stores were discarding surplus product. Thanks to the generosity of the food industry and our financial donors, the Great Plains Food Bank now recovers 15 million pounds of food annually — providing 12.8 million meals for more than 145,000 children, older adults, and families in hundreds of communities across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota.
Seizing the opportunity to expand our efforts and capture highly nutritious perishable and fresh food, the Great Plains Food Bank launched Daily Bread 32 years ago — one of our most efficient food rescue efforts serving the Fargo-Moorhead community. Fifteen years ago, we expanded this effort to Bismarck-Mandan.
Now renamed Retail Rescue, this innovative initiative rescues fresh produce, dairy, meat, and dry goods from grocery stores, convenience stores, and big box retailers and swiftly distributes nearly 3 million meals annually, right to the doors of dozens of food pantries, shelters, and meal sites.
Throughout the Fargo-Moorhead community, three Great Plains Food Bank trucks pick up food daily, loading their vehicles with surplus food items ranging from baked goods and produce to dairy and frozen meats. Same-day deliveries to area food pantries, shelters, and meal sites provide food immediately to our neighbors facing hunger. These efforts rescue and distribute food for nearly 2 million meals in the Fargo-Moorhead metro area annually.
Halfway across the state in Bismarck-Mandan, Mike Running has been behind the wheel of the Great Plains Food Bank truck since its beginning. He recalls his first food donation pickup from US Foods, which he delivered to a shelter later that day. Today, Mike makes 30 – 40 stops each week rescuing fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, dairy products, and shelf-stable items and delivers more than 830,000 meals annually, directly to the doors of our partner food pantries, meal sites, and shelters throughout Bismarck and Mandan, ND.
Seeing the great needs of our neighbors throughout North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, while identifying additional opportunities with our food industry partners, the Great Plains Food Bank launched our next level of retail rescue: “agency-enabled” retail rescue.
The Great Plains Food Bank provides food safety training and equipment to our partner food pantries, meal sites, and shelters, enabling them to safely rescue, transport, and distribute these valuable and nutritious products. The result is less food waste and increased food available to our neighbors who need it.
Our Retail Rescue initiative plays a vital role in the overall food sourcing strategy for the Great Plains Food Bank. Of all food sourced statewide, an impressive 39% comes from these retail recovery initiatives — not only maximizing the use of available food but also strengthening the local food supply chain and creating a more sustainable solution to hunger relief.
With the support of dedicated friends like you, the Great Plains Food Bank will continue impacting our neighbors with nutritious food, one rescued meal at a time.