Submitted Photo Volunteers with the Velva Community Food Pantry pose with their grant check from North Dakota Community Foundation in June.

BISMARCK – The North Dakota Community Foundation (NDCF) is celebrating its 50th anniversary by awarding 50 grants to food pantries across the state.

“When we discussed how best to celebrate this organization and its impact, we wanted to do something meaningful that furthered our mission,” said Steve Lipp, president and CEO of NDCF. “Providing grants to food pantries all across the state and in some of our most rural areas was a perfect fit.”

NDCF partnered with the Freeman Foundation in the endeavor. The Freeman Foundation is committed to fighting food insecurity across the nation and provided the funding for the grants.

Area food pantries receiving grants are Turtle Mountain Worship Center- Food Pantry, Belcourt; Berthold Zion Food Pantry, Berthold; Bottineau Food Pantry, Bottineau; Garrison Area Resource Center & Food Pantry, Garrison; Central Dakota Food Pantry, Harvey; Max Food Pantry, Max; Sheridan County Food Shelf, McClusky; Mohall Food Pantry, Mohall; Powers Lake Food Pantry, Powers Lake; Ray Food Pantry, Ray; Pierce County Food Pantry, Rugby; Mountrail Community Food Pantry, Stanley; and Velva Community Food Pantry, Velva.

The grants were a surprise to the recipients.

“Thank you so much for your generosity,” wrote Robin Hennings, Food/Products coordinator for the Max Food Pantry. “Your donation will go a long way in helping provide food and hygiene products for our neighbors we serve.”

NDCF was established in 1976 with the mission of improving the quality of life for North Dakota citizens through charitable giving and promoting philanthropy. The organization currently administers more than 1,000 charitable funds, including 72 local community endowment funds, a Statewide Greatest Needs Fund, numerous donor-advised funds, and more than 200 scholarships for North Dakota youth. It has awarded more than $134 million in grants since its inception and has offices in Bismarck, Dickinson, Larimore and Wahpeton.