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The Great Plains Food Bank's Thanksgiving Mission: "Fill the Dome"

Nov 22, 2024 at 3:55 AM

With Thanksgiving approaching, the Great Plains Food Bank in Fargo, North Dakota, is on a mission to ensure no one goes hungry. One of their key efforts this holiday season is being led by students. According to their data, one in four children in the North Dakota – Clay County, Minnesota region face food insecurity. This means they don't know where their next meal will come from. It's a sad reality that so many children are suffering, especially during winter. Rebecca Knutson, the corporate engagement manager at the Great Plains Food Bank, emphasizes the importance of providing food for all.

"Join the Students in Filling the Dome to End Hunger"

Students Leading the Way

Students from various areas like Fargo, Moorhead, West Fargo, and surrounding regions come together to participate in 'Fill the Dome'. Around 12 schools take part in planning the event, and hundreds or even thousands of students get involved. Makenna Peterson is one such student who has been a part since kindergarten and is now a Metro Area Student Ambassador Advisor. She shares her experience, saying, "Nobody really realizes how much goes into it until you are behind the scenes. I never knew, even as a Metro Area Student Ambassador, how much an advisor does. So seeing how much has to be planned, get arranged, it's a lot. It's a lot more than I think people would think it would be."

The goal this year is to raise an impressive 150,000 pounds of food and $50,000. After all the food is brought in on Monday night, there is a little get-together. Students sit around, scatter around the stands, and look at all the food that has been brought in. They play sappy music and truly take in the amazing sight of how much their community and schools are involved.

The 'Round Up Hunger' Theme

This year's theme, "Round Up Hunger…Yeehaw for a Cause!", adds a unique touch to the event. It shows the community's spirit and determination to make a difference. The Great Plains Food Bank is working hard to reach their goal and make sure that no child goes hungry during Thanksgiving.

Students will start bringing food into the FARGODOME on Monday, and Tuesday is the big event. Everything will then be taken back to the Great Plains Food Bank to be sorted and distributed as needed. This is a crucial effort that will have a significant impact on the lives of many children in the region.