Photo: Great Plains Food Bank

CARRINGTON, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Great Plains Food Bank and USDA will be returning the Farmers to Families Food Box program to the area this week.

To date USDA contractors have delivered 139,075,406 boxes of fresh produce, milk, dairy and cooked meats to disadvantaged Americans across the country. The programs connects farmers to families in their area to provide needed food assistance for those affected by the Coronavirus.

“In the current fifth round of purchases, USDA will purchase up to $1.5 billion worth of food for delivery through the end of April,” the USDA states. “The additional funding for the program was included in the COVID-19 relief package as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act passed December 21, 2020. USDA will again purchase combination boxes to ensure all involved recipient organizations have access to fresh produce, dairy products, fluid milk and meat products, and seafood products will also be included in this round.”

The program will be made available to Carrington area residents on Wednesday, February 24th from 9:30 AM to 10:30 AM at Dakota Central, 630 5th St. N. They will then operate in Harvey from 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM in the Harvey High School Parking lot, 200 North St. E. From there, they’ll move to McClusky from 3:30 PM until the food is gone at 910 4th St. E.

Anyone in need of food assistance from any community are welcome to participate.

For more information or to volunteer, contact Anna Johnson at 701-361-1004 or email ajohnson@greatplainsfoodbank.com.