MACF Announces 7th Annual Donation Station Challenge Grant

Posted: Aug 20 2024

The Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF) is excited to announce their 7^th Annual Donation Station Challenge Grant to benefit local food pantries. Area organizations are invited to utilize the Donation Station in the coming months to collect items and stock area food pantries for a chance to win additional grant dollars for one of the eligible local food pantries.
 
Participating organizations are asked to set a goal of collecting 1,000 pounds of food or more during a single collection drive for a designated food pantry. If the organization’s collection of 1,000 pounds is successful, the designated food pantry will receive a $1,000 grant from Minot Area Community Foundation’s Arnold I. Besserud Fund.
 
“The continued pressure of higher grocery prices has put an additional strain on all consumers including our local food pantries who are seemingly doing more with less. By awarding $1,000 for 1000 pounds or more collected, we hope to offset some of the inflationary impacts those organizations are experiencing”, states Jason Zimmerman, President of MACF.
 
Last year, 10 organizations participated in the challenge with a total of 11,919 pounds of food collected and $8,000 granted back to area food pantries.   
 
This year’s challenge grant will again run from September 1^st – December 31^st, 2024, but kicks off early with a Souris Valley United Way food drive for school food pantries that will take place on Thursday, August 22nd. Organizations are invited to facilitate food collection events between September 1^st-December 31^st and must utilize the Donation Station to be eligible for additional grant dollars. Local food pantries must be approved by MACF staff, and rural communities wanting to participate will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
 
The Donation Station is a pull-behind trailer that is housed at the Minot Area Community Foundation. You may contact the Minot Area Community Foundation at 852-0646 for more details or to reserve the Donation Station for an upcoming event.  See the Minot Area Community Foundation social media pages for an additional announcement to kick of the challenge grant.