Pack the Civic Center

Students from Shiloh Christian School raised over 400lbs of food for the Pack the Civic Center event. The students and their teacher, Mr. Brian Marcus, pose for a photo with the Governor and First Lady, along with Bismarck Mayor, John Warford, in front of their fantastic collection of food donations! The Governor and Mrs. Hoeven, as well as Mayor Warford, had stopped by the event to donate non-perishable food items.

Thank you for supporting the first ever

Bismarck-Mandan Pack the Civic

Center Community Food Drive event!

On Sept. 18 & 19, 2009, over 5,500 lbs of food were raised for

Coalition member food pantries and soup kitchens

across south central North Dakota ! THANK YOU!

The Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc. would like to sincerely thank the Bismarck Jaycees, along with each of the Pack the Civic Center sponsors, volunteers, and donors for their fantastic support!

With such incredible generosity, the Coalition is able to continue the work of its mission, which is to help ensure that housing and other basic human needs are within everyone's reach in an affordable and dignified manner.

Again, and truly, thank you!

A snapshot of the collaboration for an outstanding community event ,with representation of event facilitator, beneficiaries, and sponsors (above l-r): Karla Meikle, Bismarck Jaycees; Mark Meier, Soup Cafe; Tina Grumbo, Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc.; Governor John Hoeven; First Lady Mikey Hoeven; Gayle Klopp and Gayla Sherman, Charles Hall Youth Services. Soup Cafe and Charles Hall Youth Services are members of the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc.

Photos (top right): 900 lbs of food packed and ready for Grant County Food Pantry, based in Carson, ND; (above) Stacey Pfliiger, with McLean Family Resource Center, based in Washburn, ND, smiles next to their 400 lbs of food items. Ms. Pfliiger stated the 400 lbs would be able to feed approximately 4-5 families, of the many that they serve, for roughly 2-3 weeks.

Members of the Bismarck Jaycees take a quick break during the packing and sorting frenzy (as seen in photos right) to pose for a photo with US Senator Byron Dorgan, ND, as he stopped by the event to show his support for the community food drive as well as for the MVCHP.

"Thank you for your generous donation of food. ... We appreciate your sharing in helping feed the poor and hungry in our community."

-- Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry

Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry is a member of the Great Plains Food Bank, which is a member of the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc.

Beneficiaries of the 2009 Pack the Civic Center Community Food Drive were the following Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc. member food pantries and/or soup kitchens:

Abused Adult Resource Center

AID Inc.

Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry*

Bismarck Public Schools

Charles Hall Youth Services

Community Action

Dacotah Foundation*

Grant County Food Pantry*

Great Plains Food Bank

Mandan Nazarene Church*

Mandan Public Schools

McLean Family Resource Center

Open Door Community Center*

Ruth Meiers Hospitality House

Sheridan County Food Pantry*

Soup Cafe

Welcome House

Women's Action & Resource Center

Youthworks

*denotes that these agencies/ organizations are not members of the Missouri Valley Coalition for Homeless People, Inc., however they are members of the Great Plains Food Bank. Great Plains Food Bank is a member of the MVCHP and all Great Plains Food Bank members across the 10-counties represented by the Coalition were invited to participate this community food drive.