This September marks the 15th anniversary of food recovery efforts for the Great Plains Food Bank in the Bismarck-Mandan area. This innovative initiative connects local grocery stores, retailers, and food donors to the Great Plains Food Bank to rescue surplus, mislabeled, or perishable food products that would otherwise go to waste. The rescued food is then distributed to partner food pantries, shelters, and soup kitchens, where neighbors can get access to fresh, nutritious food.
In the Bismarck-Mandan area, nearly 1 million pounds of food is being recovered annually, equating to 830,324 meals, valued at $1.92 million.
A big reason for the program’s success is the great partnerships between the food bank and the incredible food industry donors who generously give, and the dedicated partner food pantries, shelters and soup kitchens who transform this surplus food into meals for neighbors in need.
Mike Running is a dedicated team member who has been with the Great Plains Food Bank since the start of these recovery efforts. “We are incredibly grateful to Mike for his 15 years of outstanding dedication to our retail rescue operation,” shared Mandy Cherney, Operations Manager of the Bismarck Distribution Center. “His tireless efforts and kind spirit have been instrumental in collecting over 12.3 million pounds of food, helping to nourish our Bis-Man neighbors. He works diligently to serve as many agencies as possible each week, ensuring that those in need receive the support they deserve.”
Food recovery efforts from the retail sector play a vital role in the overall food sourcing strategy for the Great Plains Food Bank. Out of all food sourced by Great Plains Food Bank, an impressive 39% comes from food recovery efforts statewide. This approach not only maximizes the use of available food but also strengthens the local food supply chain and creates a more sustainable solution to hunger relief.
The Great Plains Food Bank remains committed to its food recovery efforts to meet the growing needs of the community and the organization looks forward to continuing this impactful work of ending hunger, together.
