Donation Station Challenge Grant returns
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The Minot Area Community Foundation (MACF) has announced the return of its annual Donation Station Challenge Grant, benefiting local food pantries throughout the community.
From Sept. 1 through Dec. 31, area organizations are invited to reserve the Donation Station for use during food drives. For every pound of food collected, MACF's Arnold I. Besserud Fund will contribute $1 to the organization's designated food pantry. There are no minimum or maximum collection requirements, making it easy for organizations of all sizes to participate.
MACF kicked off this year's Challenge Grant in partnership with Souris Valley United Way during the Airstream Club International Convention in Minot. Convention attendees collected food and monetary donations throughout the week in preparation for a large, communitywide food-packing event. MACF pledged to match up to $10,000 of funds raised through the Airstream Convention. The Donation Station trailer was on-site throughout the collection to help corral and organize food donations totaling nearly 4,500 pounds of food for the Backpack Buddies program, and the packing event filled 2,300 bags for local students.
The Donation Station Challenge Grant has continued to grow as a communitywide effort to address food insecurity, according to MACF. In 2025, the program collected 19,354 pounds of food, while the Arnold I. Besserud Fund matched the donations dollar-for-pound, providing an additional $19,354 to local food pantries.
Since its launch in 2017, the Donation Station has provided a simple way for businesses, organizations, schools, community groups and individuals to turn food donations into additional support for local food pantries. Through the Challenge Grant, more than 104,000 pounds of food have been collected and more than $57,000 has been invested in local food pantries.