MAKOTI – Community Food Pantry in Makoti took a major hit recently with the loss of a major donor, but it continues to do what it can for residents of the several rural communities who rely on its services.

Pantry coordinator Kathy Kimball said the pantry continues to offer drive-by pickups the fourth Saturday of each month (the third Saturday in December due to the holiday), from 10 a.m.-1 p.m., although its supplies now are reduced. Along with regular distribution days, it offers flexibility for alternative pickup days if a client cannot come on pantry day.

Community Food Pantry is an independent food pantry in Makoti with a service area that includes New Town, Parshall, Plaza, Ryder, Douglas, Roseglen and White Shield.

Not associated with the statewide distributor Great Plains Food Bank, the pantry lost a good share of its donations when a major donor chose to switch its support to a program through Great Plains and MHA Nation. Kimball said Community Food Pantry was advised by its former donor to direct patrons to a new pantry in New Town.

However, Community Food Pantry does not send people away, particularly when traveling to New Town might not be feasible for all clients, nor do all pantries accept clients from outside their areas, Kimball said.

Great Plains Food Bank has delivered and distributed food in the region, but the food drops have been only in New Town and Parshall and are infrequent, she added.

Great Plains Food Bank provided information stating it has supported the region through its Mobile Food Pantry program in communities such as New Town and Parshall. The Mobile Food Pantry brings fresh and shelf-stable food directly into areas with limited access to local food pantries or grocery stores and is scheduled based on local need, resource availability and community readiness to host, Great Plains stated.

The program visits communities every three months, with the goal of providing four visits a year. The pantry stopped in New Town Tuesday, Dec. 2, and will stop in Parshall Wednesday , Dec. 3.

Great Plains works with community leaders, volunteers and organizations on the ground to identify needs, secure a site and help coordinate distribution. Because of that, the feasibility of expanding into additional towns depends on both the program’s capacity and the presence of willing community partners to help make the events possible, the organization stated.

“We’re always looking for partners in this work. Whether through hosting mobile food pantries or joining our network as a local pantry, community organizations play a crucial role in ending hunger. The Great Plains Food Bank is just one piece of the puzzle in getting food into the hands of neighbors who need it most, and sustainable solutions come from collaboration across communities,” said Darby Njos, communications manager with Great Plains.

Kimball said participating with Great Plains would be difficult for Community Food Pantry due to the documentation paperwork that would be required of the small pantry with limited volunteers. She added there also is a fee to participate with Great Plains, and there’s concern that a small pantry may be given secondary priority for items it orders.

The volunteer-run Community Food Pantry opened in 2015 in Ryder, moving to Makoti after a location was located. It has been serving about 150 families a month, Kimball said. The most recent, monthly food distribution brought clients from Parshall, Minot, Plaza, Douglas, Ryder and Makoti.

Kimball said it is difficult for Community Food Pantry to find major donors and groceries able to help in its current dilemma. Only one small grocery has been available to donate, she said.

“This is definitely a food desert. The monetary donations are hard to get and the food donations are hard to get,” she said.

Kimball noted the pantry has become reliant on food drives, donations and grants. The pantry has benefited recently from food drives by a church parish, schools and a large company that operates in the area, but those collections don’t entirely cover the shortfall in supplies, she said. The food drives included only dry and canned foods, leaving the pantry’s three freezers empty.

Kimball said the food will need to be rationed in December to stretch supplies.

The pantry is accepting donations toward food purchases to increase its supplies. Donations can be mailed or dropped off at Community Food Pantry, 181 Ellsworth St., P.O. Box 51, Makoti, ND 58756 or call 578-5876 for more information.