Minot State students hosting food drive

MINOT, N.D. – The Minot State University College of Business Looyenga Leadership Institute is hosting a food drive for the Minot State food pantry and the Matthew 25 Project this weekend, April 1-2.

The event will be held in the Marketplace Foods 1620 South Broadway location from 9:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday. The Donation Station trailer, provided by the Minot Area Community Foundation, will be outside with volunteers also located inside both entrances to the grocery store.

“We will be easy to find, and people can donate cash or food,” said Mandi Carroll, Minot State social work student and Looyenga Leadership Institute member. “Monetary donations will go to Lutheran Campus Ministries. They run the food pantry and can then buy items with those funds.”

In addition to monetary and food donations, the drive will also be accepting personal hygiene products, clothing, and household goods, such as cleaning supplies. New in requests this year is frozen goods, thanks to the addition of freezers at the University’s food pantry.

“The main bulk of this event is the food itself,” said Carroll. “With COVID-19 SNAP benefits going away and inflation, the pantry is empty. A lot of people really need to utilize the food pantries in this state and here, at Minot State, it’s always open.”

The pantry supplies items to the Minot State community who may be experiencing hunger or struggling to purchase food and other items and is open to all campus students, faculty, and staff. The Matthew 25 Project seeks to meet the material needs of people in the greater Minot community and has been distributing clothing and household items since January 2019.

While the Looyenga Leadership Institute is spearheading the event, the Minot State University Student Social Work Organization (SSWO) is also assisting with the food drive.

“SSWO is providing many volunteers. That’s what we’re good at — we help,” said Carroll. “They really are providing all the volunteers besides the four of us who are on the committee.”

Volunteers from the community are welcome to help and can sign up HERE.

“Food is one of our basic needs,” said Carroll. “If we know there are people that aren’t even having their basic needs met, I just feel like it makes our community strong to help meet those needs. 

“We claim to be North Dakota nice, and this food drive is a great way to put that into action. Giving back is one of the best ways to remember that we’re not alone in the world.”

About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.

Published: 03/27/23   




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