Who We Are
North Country Food Bank is a 501(c)3 charitable non-profit and is the largest hunger-relief organization in northwest and west central Minnesota. Each year we distribute over 6 million pounds of food, or enough food for 5.2 million meals, which feed approximately 35,000 of our neighbors in need. Our distribution occurs through a network of effective regional agency partners and through our own direct service programs including our: Mobile Food Pantry, Nutrition for Seniors (CSFP) and BackPack Program.
We are committed to providing nutritious food to our neighbors in need, supporting their healthy lives and our healthy communities.
North Country is a member of Feeding America™, the nation’s largest hunger-relief organization.
1 in 10 neighbors
are impacted by hunger
1 in 5 children
are impacted by hunger
What We Do
North Country Food Bank provides food across northwest and west central Minnesota to neighbors struggling with hunger.
Every day, thousands of people across northwest and west central Minnesota struggle to put food on the table. Record-high inflation, supply chain disruptions, a lack of affordable housing...these factors impact each of us every day, but have an even greater detrimental effect on our neighbors struggling to make ends meet. This leaves them facing impossible choices that nobody should have to make.
Our focus is providing nutritious food to feed families, children, and seniors. These meals allow children to succeed in school. They allow adults to focus on their jobs instead of how they are going to put food on the table. They allow seniors to experience better health and quality of life without having to make difficult decisions on whether to pay for medical prescriptions or food.
Together we can make a difference in the lives of our neighbors, family, and friends that struggle with hunger.
Working
Ending hunger means working together every day to make sure all our neighbors, whether in the most remote rural area or the larger towns, have access to food when they need it.
How We Do It
North Country Food Bank rescues food nationally, regionally and locally from manufacturers, wholesalers, retailers, and growers. Much of this nutritious food passes through our 35,000 square foot distribution facility in East Grand Forks, before being distributed to 220 charitable feeding programs throughout northwest and west central Minnesota.
These programs include our network of non-profit agency partners (food shelves, soup kitchens, shelters and other programs) and our own direct service programs which directly feed the hungry. Our agency partners are able to order the foods that are right for their programs. Most of this food is delivered to their door by our fleet of trucks that travel through our 21 county region.
Our work is made possible by the generosity, compassion and commitment of our many partners. Check out our Partners & Affiliations page to read more about them. North Country continues its commitment to making a difference in the lives of the thousands of children, seniors, and families who struggle with hunger. We believe in a hunger-free Minnesota.
Leadership & Board
North Country Food Bank's leadership team and board of directors have the commitment, dedication and passion to our mission of ending hunger across northwest and west central Minnesota and ensuring all our hungry neighbors have the access to food that they need.
Susie (Novak) Boelter
Executive Director
Susie is a native of Tabor, Minnesota, and has been with North Country Food Bank since 2006. Her dedication and desire to help people in need comes from her parents, who led by example.
"All of us have missed a meal, but it is an entirely different thing to not know when you get to eat again. North Country works every single day to make sure none of our neighbors in need have to face this situation and make difficult choices. Every dollar counts. Every person who helps makes a difference, and every person we help matters."
Mike Davidson
Operations Director
Mike Davidson joined North Country Food Bank in 2002 and was promoted to his role as Operations Director in 2007. In this role, Mike is responsible for food bank operations, including food acquisition, transportation, inventory control, and regulatory compliance over food and personal safety.
Kristen Duckstad
Finance Director
Kristen Duckstad joined North Country Food Bank as Finance Director in 2017, where she oversees the financial operations of the organization.
Our Board of Directors
- Chair – Jill Fritel*
- Vice-Chair – Brian Larson*
- Secretary/Treasurer – Beth Nelson*
- Director – Kayla Winkler
- Director – Diane Blair
- Director – John Leikness
*Denotes Members of Personnel/Finance Committee
We Serve
North Country Food Bank serves 21 counties in northwest and west central Minnesota and part of Grand Forks, North Dakota.