2020 has been an incredible year for all of us living at this time. When it comes to access to food, there have been many changes and challenges. From the Creating a Hunger Free North Dakota Coalition, we offer up our appreciation and sincere thanks to all the people whose hands have helped get food to people. 

CHFND's partners have recently shared how they are responding to unprecedented food needs deepened and widened by the COVID-19 pandemic and ensuing economic stresses. State agencies and nonprofit organizations have been working to expand and/or change services to deliver them remotely. More WIC operations and services are able to be accessed remotely. Federal funding has increased SNAP monthly amounts for many who receive it, and Pandemic EBT benefits were made available to families with children when school was not in session. School food service personnel have been adapting rapidly to meet the different ways in which education is being delivered, and meals prepared and served to children from schools are available at no charge with the support of federal funding.Senior meals providers received extra federal funding to cover additional costs of packaging for meals picked up or delivered. CARES Act funding was designated to help increase cold-holding infrastructure for food pantries and rural grocery stores and to help small grocery stores with online ordering. Farmers to Families food boxes and additional federal funding, along with donations from individuals and the private sector,  boosted amounts of food available through the charitable feeding networks that include food pantries and soup kitchens.

Needs not being met include transportation and volunteers to get food to people.  We are exploring how the increase in gardening and donations of locally-grown food helped people meet food needs. 

Questions? Contact Karen Ehrens, karen@ehrensconsulting.com