The freezer/cooler will enhance the food pantry’s ability to store perishable products and better serve clients.

The pantry purchased the freezer/cooler with a grant from the N.D. Department of Agriculture, which allocated $2 million in funding in 2020 through the coronavirus relief bill to help charitable food organizations and small grocers. The Granville pantry used $39,944 to obtain a 10-foot by 14-foot walk-in freezer and cooler from Minot Restaurant Supply.

The pantry acquired the land for the equipment after tracking down the owner, Doloris Lynch in Kalispell, Montana. Pantry coordinator Joni Anderson said Lynch, who inherited the lot from an uncle 30 years earlier, and her family agreed to sell the property for the project. Premiere Concrete of Norwich installed the freezer pad.

Anderson said the pantry serves nearly 70 families in the Towner-Granville-Upham school district and surrounding area. The pantry is open the second Wednesday of each month for the Granville area and the third Tuesday for the Towner and Upham areas. Two drivers from Upham and one from Towner pick up for several clients.

Submitted Photo Crew from Minot Restaurant Supply begin to erect a freezer/cooler for the McHenry County Food Pantry in Granville, completing it prior to the arrival of food to stock it on Friday.

The pantry receives regular support from the Eagles Club gaming, five local churches and several individual donors, Anderson said.

Residents needing assistance are invited to fill out applications, which are processed through Minot Community Action Partnership.

“We would love to help more people,” Anderson said. “Anyone in need can contact myself, their local city auditor, social services or the school.”