EAST GRAND FORKS — The North Country Food Bank will be holding a produce distribution event in its parking lot on Friday, Aug. 14. People will be able to walk up and pick up however much produce they need and will use.
It is an important community event that will aid in getting additional food to people who are in need, said Community Engagement Director Kristin Osowski.
“They can grab as much as they need and even pick up for additional households if they choose to,” she said. “We do allow for Grand Forks and East Grand Forks and any other community in our area to come and grab produce. We have been doing additional produce drops with some of our partners.”
Friday will mark the third distribution event the food bank has run this summer. The need for easy access to food has been growing as the price of food has increased 3% over the past 12 months. There has also been a rise in families experiencing food insecurity across the country, according to a report from the Federal Reserve Bank of New York.
While the distribution of produce in East Grand Forks will be for picking up food, there have been recent opportunities for intake at the North Country Food Bank. These would include food items that tie in to the Emergency Food Assistance Program.
The rise in events has coincided with the rise in food prices, Osowski said.
“We do see a larger increase in the need based on food prices. When we’re purchasing produce, we’re getting it at a lower cost because we are ordering it in bulk but of course it goes out free to anyone who needs it,” she said.
Past items that have been available at produce distributions have included potatoes, carrots, melons, squash and onions. All produce on Friday will be available at the North Country Food Bank at 1011 11th Ave. N.E.
“Last week we did do intake for people who were coming up just because we were distributing some TFEP beans, rice and milk,” Osowski said.
Other locations the North Country Food Bank has extended to in recent weeks have included Crookston, Newfolden and Karlstad. The program will even make its return to Greenbush on Friday as well.
The group is planning to make produce distributions on Fridays in East Grand Forks a regular occurrence. There will also be an additional distribution event on Aug. 25 and will monitor participation to see if it is necessary.
“We can get to some people who are working or who may be unable to attend the ones on Friday morning,” Osowski said.
People who attend and are receiving food will be asked to identify themselves as well as be asked a few simple household questions by staff from North Country Food Bank. This process is a way for the group to keep track of how many families are being served. Participants are also asked to bring their own boxes and bags.
Digital Content Producer and Sports Reporter at the Grand Forks Herald since December of 2020. Maxwell can be contacted at mmarko@gfherald.com.
