News & Events

Susie Novak accepts a check from Dave Genereux, Andrew Svec, Dale Knotek, and Betty Arvidson as they pose in front of the freezer that was purchased.
 

December, 2011 - The Crookston Area Community Fund (CACF) presented a grant of $1,500 to North Country Food Bank, Inc. The grant was used towards the purchase of a freezer for the recently established food shelf. Susie Novak, Executive Director stated that “as a result of the generosity of a church, North Country has been able to temporarily use the church’s refrigeration and freezer equipment to launch the food shelf. North Country must now acquire its own equipment for long-term use.”

The Crookston Area Community fund is a component fund of the Northwest Minnesota Foundation, a 501 c (3) organization. CACF is committed to enhancing or improving the quality of life for residents and/or visitors of the Crookston area.

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 North Country Food Shelf Opens Its Doors

October, 2011 - Crookston now has a new food shelf to assist people in need. North Country Food Bank opened a food shelf on Monday, October 24th. The food shelf is housed at North Country’s current location at 424 North Broadway, in downtown Crookston and is open to all residents of Polk County.

The goal of the food shelf is to provide food security to families and individuals in need throughout Polk County. The food shelf will run as a client choice model, where people are able to select the foods they need and will use, increasing the usefulness of what is given to them. The food shelf will also serve as a model for training and educational purposes for the other food shelves in North Country’s 21 county service area.

North Country Food Shelf will be open five days a week and one Saturday each month. This will allow the food shelf to accommodate clients with non-traditional schedules.

Donna Hartel has been hired as the coordinator of the food shelf and will be a great addition to the staff. Donna holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from the University of Minnesota, Crookston and brings extensive customer service experience.

North Country Food Bank would like to thank United Way of Crookston for the $5000 grant that was used in the acquisition of food to launch the food
shelf.


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Join the Movement to Fight Hunger

North Country Food Bank, Inc., a regional hunger relief organization serving northwest and west central Minnesota, is pleased to announce it is a founding partner of Hunger-Free Minnesota. Officially launched on June 7, Hunger-Free Minnesota is a transformational, collaborative movement to fight hunger in our communities initiated by a coalition of partners united in the common belief that food is a basic and essential human right that every Minnesotan should have.

The coalition, which includes the six Feeding America Food Banks serving Minnesota, Hunger Solutions Minnesota and Greater Twin Cities United Way, came together after a series of five groundbreaking hunger-related studies conducted over the past 24 months shed light on hunger’s devastating, pervasive and costly grip on Minnesota. Among those studies is the Missing Meals Study, which found an annual shortfall of 100-million meals for low-income Minnesotans.

“The data in those studies made it clear that hunger has a stronger hold on Minnesota than we previously thought—a hold that is hurting our citizens, our communities and our economy,” said Susie Novak, Executive Director of North Country Food Bank. “And it led North Country and all of Hunger-Free Minnesota’s founding partners to say, ‘enough is enough’. The bottom line is that it’s time for Minnesotans to band together and meet the needs of our hungry neighbors once and for all.” According to Novak, participating in Hunger-Free Minnesota is as easy as visiting www.hungerfreemn.org, where individuals can help their neighbors in need by joining the movement for a Minnesota where everyone has enough to eat. To learn more about Hunger-Free Minnesota, the five hunger-related studies or to join the movement, visit www.hungerfreemn.org.

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North Country Food Bank, Inc. receives more than $40,000 from Cenex Harvest States!

(Crookston, MN) April 13, 2011 - Mid-Valley Grain helped raise over two million melas for hungry families in the first ever CHS Harvest for Hunger food and funds drive.  "We're thrilled to report that CHS Harvest for Hunger reached double its goal," says Robert Staehnke, general manager.  "Our thanks to everyone who participated.  Together we proved how much the country cares about helping others in need."

For every donation collected, CHS Country Operations is making a local contribution that will be reinvested back into a local cause to help nearby friends and neighbors.  "Because our cooperative raised one of the largest amounts per full-time employee, we also earned a bonus contribution to reinvest in our community," says Staehnke.

In only 18 days, CHS employees, customers and partners worked together to collect 314,162 pounds of food and $247,635 in cash and grain for Feeding America's network of regional food banks.

Mid-Valley Grain is a business unit of CHS Inc., a leading energy, grains and foods company committed to providing essential resources that enrich lives.  For 80 years, the CHS system has valued volunteerism and been responsible stewards in its communities.  Held March 1-18, the CHS Harvest for Hunger food and funds drive harnessed the power of CHS retail locations to help address America's growing hunger problem.


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Hugo's Participates in the Kraft Huddle For Hunger to Help North Country Food Bank, Inc.

April 20, 2011– The fight against hunger in northwest and west central Minnesota received strong support today from Hugo’s. Jack Sitter, of Hugo’s in Crookston, presented Susie Novak, of North Country Food Bank, Inc., with a check in the amount of $1,500.00. This donation was made possible as a result of Hugo’s participation in the Huddle for Hunger campaign sponsored by Feeding America and Kraft.

"There are thousands of hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are faced with the realities of hunger," said Sitter. "Many people don't realize the scope of hunger in their own community. We hope that by making this donation, we're not only helping feed those in need, but also bringing awareness to the issue of hunger here in northwest Minnesota."

Nationally, one in eight Americans are at risk of hunger. Locally, approximately 4,200 people receive emergency food assistance during any given week in the 21 counties North Country serves in northwest and west central Minnesota. North Country works with more than 210 local nonprofit agencies to distribute this food to people in need. This year, North Country will distribute over 4 million pounds of food to people in need. 

"We are very grateful for Hugo’s support in the fight against hunger," said Susie Novak, executive director of North Country Food Bank. "They have been a great local partner. This donation is especially valuable right now, when rising gas prices and rising food prices are forcing people to stretch their budgets more than ever.” For more information on how to get involved in the fight against hunger, please visit www.northcountryfoodbank.org
 

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Minnesota Dehydrated Vegetables, Inc. Makes Donation with Special Acknowledgement of Larry & Diane Altringer

November 8, 2010 – The fight against hunger in northwest and west central Minnesota received strong support today as Minnesota Dehydrated Vegetables, Inc., (MDV) of Fosston, MN, donated over 47,000 pounds - which is more than a truckload - of food to North Country Food Bank, Inc.

The donation was made possible by MDV, with special acknowledgment to co-owners Larry and Diane Altringer. "There are thousands of hard-working adults, children and seniors who simply cannot make ends meet and are faced with the realities of hunger,” said Jim Noyes, General Manager of MDV. "Many people don't realize the scope of hunger in their own community. We hope that by making this donation, we're not only helping feed those in need, but also bringing awareness to the issue of hunger in northwest Minnesota."

Nationally, one in eight Americans are at risk of hunger. Locally, approximately 4,200 people receive emergency food assistance during any given week in the 21 counties North Country serves in northwest and west central Minnesota. North Country works with more than 210 local nonprofit agencies to distribute this food to people in need. This year, North Country will distribute over 4 million pounds of food.

MDV has been in the business of producing and selling high quality dehydrated vegetables since their inception in 1990. The company has made a name for itself by building a strong reputation for producing high quality products. Along with several standard products, including dehydrated and infusion puffed vegetables, MDV also provides custom products, custom processing, custom granulating and blending.

"We are very grateful for Minnesota Dehydrated Vegetable, Inc.’s support in the fight against hunger," said Susie Novak, executive director of North Country Food Bank. "This donation of pasta blend is especially valuable to people in need at this time. We are fast approaching the winter and the holiday seasons when people need help more than ever." For more information on how to get involved in the fight against hunger please contact us.

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North Country receives donation from Fertile-Beltrami National Honor Society.

November 11, 2010 - The Fertile-Beltrami National Honor Society sponsored a fundraising drive in the Fertile-Beltrami Schools to raise money for North Country Food Bank.  On November 11, 2010, the National Honor Society presented Susie Novak, executive director of North Country Food Bank, with a check in the amount of $491.29 to help feed people in need during the upcoming holiday season.

As part of this event, several 7th and 8th grade math classes competed to raise the most funds.  Additionally, a group from the elementary school held a bake sale and contributed the proceeds to the fundraising drive.

"It is great to see school groups get involved in the fight against hunger," said Novak.  The National Honor Society was excited to make a difference and to donate to North Country where every dollar can help provide food for up to five meals.  "This is definitely our busy season at the food bank.  More people need help during the holiday season.  We are very grateful for the donation from the National Honor Society," said Novak.

There couldn’t be a more meaningful time than now to take a stand against hunger.  Remember, hunger doesn't take a break during the holidays or any day.  All contributions help enusre that children, families and seniors in our communities have enough to eat during the holidays and every day.

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North Country receives donation from Riverview Health for the Crookston BackPack Program!

September 10, 2010 - Riverview Health hosted a root beer float fundraiser in early September to raise funds to support the Crookston BackPack Program.  On Friday, September 10, 2010, Riverview Health presented North Country with $500.31 to be used for the BackPack Program in Crookston.  North Country is deeply grateful for the generosity of Riverview Health and its employees and clients.  These funds will help many children in need in the community. 

North Country is working with the Highland Elementary School in Crookston to start a BackPack Program.  In Minnesota, over 50% of those using emergency feeding programs are children. At Highland Elementary School alone, the number of children receiving free or reduced lunch has increased from 34% to 49% in the last 3 years. Typically, most children whose families are struggling don’t eat well when school is not in session. The BackPack Program helps address this issue. As part of this program, children receive a bag filled with nutritious, kid friendly food on a Friday or on the last day of school prior to a holiday. This provides the children with enough food to get them through the weekend, until school is in session again.

The estimated cost of running this program at Highland Elementary School during the 2010/2011 school year is $7,750.00. If we can raise enough funds to cover half of the cost of the program, the United Way of Crookston has generously agreed to provide matching funds up to $3,875.00 to cover the remainder of the cost.

We still need your help to fund this program.  There couldn’t be a more meaningful time than now to take a stand against hunger. No child should have to worry about whether or not they are going to be able to eat when they are not in school. Any contribution you can make will help ensure that no child in our community goes to bed hungry.   

 

Findings propel six Feeding America food banks serving Minnesota to partner to increase federal food benefits for nearly 180,000 hungry Minnesotans

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