Volunteer harvesters have been picking twice a week for the past three weeks from the 28 different vegetables being grown in the garden, according to Duane Brekke. Brekke donated the raised garden beds on his farm near Velva in 2019 for a community garden to benefit The Lord’s Cupboard.

Twelve volunteers gathered 782 pounds of produce on Thursday, said Gerald Roise with The Lord’s Cupboard. Roise said volunteers have been harvesting at least 750 pounds every week and production is ramping up for larger harvests in coming weeks.

The Lord’s Cupboard serves more than 400 families a week. Temporary pantry hours due to construction at the Broadway Circle site are 8:30-10:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays and Tuesdays from 5:30-7 p.m. Those seeking assistance must be Ward County residents.

Some of the produce is used in the Saturday brunches The Lord’s Cupboard started at the beginning of August. The soup kitchen brunches will continue on Saturdays from 10:30 a.m.-noon at The Lord’s Cupboard’s location at 1901 S. Broadway.

Submitted Photo A collection of colorful vegetables is ready Tuesday to be transported from The Lord’s Cupboard community garden near Velva to the food pantry in Minot.

Once established, the soup kitchen will expand to additional days, although it will respect other community soup kitchens and avoid duplicate times, Roise said. The Lord’s Cupboard also shares its excess produce with other local food pantries and soup kitchens, he said.

“Our soup kitchen runs on sponsorships. Organizations, churches, families, social clubs can sponsor a meal,” Roise said. Sponsors provide $400 and two shifts of five people between 8:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.

The Lord’s Cupboard also welcomes volunteers who want to help with the produce harvests on Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Volunteers meet at 8:30 a.m. at The Lord’s Cupboard to travel to the farm.