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Starting November 1st, the ongoing government shutdown may disrupt the distribution of Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. This critical program provides low-income families with access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy and thrive. Without it, many North Dakotans will face increased difficulty putting food on the table. In response, our Community Resource Coordinator at Catholic Charities North Dakota has compiled a list of local food banks and pantries ready to assist families during this challenging time. These organizations are stepping up to fill the gap, offering groceries, meals, and support to anyone in need. We encourage families affected by the SNAP disruption to reach out, explore available resources, and lean on the strength of our community. Together, we can ensure no one goes hungry. Statewide Food Pantry Great Plains Food Bank Get Updates on Mobile Food Pantries: Partner food pantries – GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK Adams County Adams County Food Pantry Phone: 701-567-4519 Barnes County Barnes County Senior Citizen Phone: 701-845-4300 Salvation Army Phone: 701-840-0098 Benson County Bdecan Presbyterian Church Phone: 701-294-2283 Billings County Belfield Lutheran Church Phone: 701-575-4703 Bottineau County Bottineau Food Pantry Burleigh County Dream Center Phone: 701-955-2150 Heaven's Helpers Soup Café Phone: 701-751-7687 Trinity Lutheran Phone: 701-223-3560 Community Action Phone: 701-258-2240 Ministry on the Margins Phone: 701-223-6315 Salvation Army Phone: 701-223-1889 New Song Phone: 701-258-5683 Corpus Christi Phone: 701-255-3104 Bismarck Emergency Food Pantry Phone: 701-258-9188 Cass County Faith United Methodist Church Food Pantry Phone: 701-232-6844 K.I.D.S. Pantry Phone: 701-793-7600 NDSU Care Team (for NDSU Students) Phone: 701-231-7701 West Fargo Eats Phone: 701-532-0394 Goods for the Herd (for NDSU Students) Churches United Phone: 218-656-7628 St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Phone: 701-566-0638 Emergency Food Pantry Phone: 701-237-9337 Salem Church Phone: 218-331-1075 Seeds of Hope Bridgepointe Area Food Pantry Phone: 701-540-1383 Open Doors 65 Phone: 701-799-4550 YWCA Phone: 701-232-3449 St. Paul's Free Lutheran Phone: 701-237-5555 Prairie Heights Community Church Phone: 701-291-8793 Dickey County Ellendale Community Food Pantry Phone: 701-349-3406 Divide County Divide County Food Pantry Phone: 701-965-6521 Dunn County Dunn County Food Pantry Phone: 701-260-1967 Eddy County First Lutheran Church Phone: 701-947-2478 Emmons County Emmons County Food Pantry Phone: 701-851-0037 Golden Valley County Beach Food Pantry Phone: 701-872-3708 Grand Forks County St. Vincent de Paul Society Phone: 218-280-2692 United Way Phone: 701-775-8661 ext 101 Salvation Army Phone: 701-775-2597 St. Joseph's Social Care Phone: 701-795-8614 Love in Action Northlands Rescue Mission Phone: 701-772-6600 Hope Church Phone: 701-757-3480 Freedom Church Phone: 701-772-3117 Grant County Carson Food Pantry Phone: 701-622-3827 Griggs County Bread of Life Phone: 701-730-6221 Griggs County Central School District Phone: 701-797-3114 McKenzie County McKenzie County Food Pantry Phone: 701-444-4040 McLean County McLean Family Resource Center Phone: 701-462-8643 Community Cupboard of Underwood Phone: 701-595-0320 Garrison Area Resource Center Phone: 701-463-2020 Mercer County Women's Action and Resource Center Phone: 701-873-2274 Morton County Engage Church Phone: 701-595-0417 Spirit of Life Phone: 701-415-0402 First Baptist Phone: 701-202-4885 AID, Inc Phone: 701-663-1274 ext. 18 Glen Ullin Community Food Pantry Phone: 256-483-9960 Flasher Area Food Pantry Phone: 701-597-3407 Pembina County Pembina County Emergency Food Pantry Ramsey County Hope Center Phone: 701-665-4673 Renville County Trinity United Parish Phone: 701-362-7922 Rollette County Turtle Mountain Food Pantry Phone: 701-477-0036 Dunseith Food Pantry Phone: 701-278-0154 Slope County Bowman/Slope Community Cupboard Phone: 602-790-1555 Stark County St. Vincent de Paul Phone: 701-690-3401 DPS Pantry & Closet Phone: 701-456-0002 AMEN Food Pantry Phone: 701-483-4344 The River Food Pantry Phone: 701-483-1083 Belfield Lutheran Church Phone: 701-575-4703 Stutsman County Salvation Army Phone: 701-252-0290 Towner County Cando Area Food Pantry Phone: 701-968-3105 Ward County Minot Area Homeless Coalition Phone: 701-852-6300 Community Food Pantry Phone: 701-578-5876 Our Lady of Grace Phone: 701-839-5520 Williams County Tioga Community Food Pantry Phone: 701-641-3349 Gloria Dei Lutheran Church Phone: 701-572-2667 Ample Harvest Phone: 701-572-2921 Regional Standing Rock Sioux Reservation Phone: 701-854-7238 Community Action- Southwest Region Phone: 701-227-0131 MHA Nation Food Distribution Program Phone: 701-627-4292 Sisseton Wahpeton Tribe Food Distribution Phone: 605-698-3762 Spirit Lake Tribe Phone: 701-294-3012 Region 1 (McKenzie, Williams, and Divide counties) Salvation Army Phone: 701-572-2921 Community Action- Northwest Region Phone: 701-572-8191 Region 2 (Burke, Bottineau, McHenry, Mountrail, Pierce, Renville, and Ward counties) Salvation Army Phone: 701-838-8925 Community Action Minot Region Phone: 701-839-7221 The Lord's Cupboard Phone: 701-839-1990 Region 5 (Cass, Ransom, Richland, Sargent, Steele, and Traill counties) The Olivet Food Pantry Phone: 701-235-6603 The Neighborhood Church A Place for Hope Phone: 218-284-6069 Peace Lutheran Church Phone: 701-232-7166 Tri-City Haitian Ministries Church of God's Word Phone: 701-639-6240 St. Andrew Lutheran Church Phone: 701-282-4195 Valley Senior Services Meals on Wheels SENDCAA (Southeastern ND Community Action Agency) Phone: 701-232-2452 Region 6 (Barnes, Dickey, Foster, Griggs, LaMoure, Logan, McIntosh, Stutsman, and Wells counties) CAP (Community Action Partnership) Phone: 701-252-1821 If you are an organization that would like to be listed, please reach out to Sara, our Community Resource Coordinator at spachl@catholiccharitiesnd.org.

There are a few important things you should understand about adoption centers. Keep reading or contact us today to learn more.

When I hear the word “Christmas” my first thoughts are of family, togetherness, laughter, peace and joy. Sadly, for a number of the people that we serve in our Guardianship Division/Intellectual Disabilities, their first thoughts may be fear, chaos, loneliness, grief or anxiety. A year ago, over the holidays, the police were called to a homeless shelter because a young woman with intellectual disabilities, Kalani, was dropped off by a couple from out of state. They left her in front of the building and drove off. Kalani only knew their first names, saying that they were new friends she made in a different state. Eventually, it was determined that Kalani had no place to return to so she was connected with a Developmental Disabilities (DD) Program Manager at the Human Service Center. The DD Program Manager made an emergency referral to our guardianship program as Kalani was not able to give informed consent for services or medical treatment and no family members could be located. We immediately accepted the referral, pending the emergency guardianship court hearing. The court ruled that a guardianship was necessary because Kalani lacked the capacity to fully understand her situation which caused her to be vulnerable and at risk of harm. Once appointed by the court, our guardianship worker immediately met with Kalani at the homeless shelter. Kalani was very distressed. She was afraid because she did not know what was going to happen to her. She had no money, no clothes, no winter coat and she knew no one in North Dakota. Our guardianship worker worked closely with the DD Program Manager to access a safe residential setting and, within days, she moved into a small group home which specializes in serving people with intellectual disabilities. Kalani was penniless – between the guardianship worker, group home staff and the DD Program Manager, they were able to obtain new clothes, a winter jacket, basic needs like shampoo, toothpaste, etc. When Kalani moved in, she was very withdrawn, quiet and anxious. She cried often. Day by day, she started to settle in. Everyone also made sure that she received gifts for Christmas! Kalani began receiving counseling to help address the trauma that she experienced. Fast forward one year – Kalani is thriving! She loves where she lives and she has several close friends. She has a part-time job that she enjoys going to three times a week. With her team’s assistance, she was able to begin receiving social security benefits and North Dakota Medicaid to help pay for her services and medical needs. Life for Kalani went from being fear-based to one of predictability, safety, happiness and peace. Our guardianship workers have the same goal for all individuals they serve – to help each person live a fulfilling life full of joy and peace. Written By: Donna Byzewski Director of GDID

Over the past few years, the Adults Adopting Special Kids (AASK) program has been a part of many changes and adjustments, allowing us to create a program full of high quality, efficient adoption procedures for our children and families! As we allow ourselves to practice all that we have implemented, we also appreciate the time when we can pause and reflect on all the moments that create peace in our world of adoption. One of the most fulfilling aspects of our role is supporting the children who join their adoptive family each year. While many emotions and feelings emerge with adoption, peace is certainly one that is cherished and valued. This past year, AASK helped 245 children finalize their adoption with their forever family! November is extra special because we get to celebrate National Adoption Month! One initiative we work on year-round but focus heavily on in November, is raising awareness for children who are not yet in their adoptive home. In North Dakota, there are approximately 25-30 children who are waiting for an adoptive family at any given time. This fueled our desire to establish the Red Shoe Campaign! The Red Shoe Campaign was started as a collaborative effort between AASK the local Recruitment and Retention Coalitions in eastern North Dakota to raise awareness to the number of North Dakota children waiting in foster care to be adopted. The campaign is a reference to the Wizard of Oz when Dorothy clicks the heels on her red shoes three times exclaiming ‘there’s no place like home’. It is the campaign’s overarching goal to spread the message that there’s, truly, no place like home and that all children deserve a family to call their own. Take a peek at some of our efforts below! While it is difficult to fully experience peace knowing children are still waiting for their forever home, we can find comfort in our continuous efforts to bring awareness to the community to learn about all of the brave, kind, and resilient children who need an adoptive home. We are grateful to have such an important role in a child’s life and are honored to be a small part of their life. We look forward building peaceful moments for children and families in the upcoming year! Written By: Kara Eastlund Director of Adults Adopting Special Kids

Life often feels like a complex, scattered puzzle. Each day, we juggle various pieces: relationships, careers, personal goals, health, and self-growth. Sometimes, these pieces feel mismatched, and we can’t envision how they could ever come together into something whole. But there are moments in life—sometimes hard-won, sometimes unexpected—when things begin to align. In these moments, we experience a sense of peace as if we’ve glimpsed the whole picture. Peace is something many of us crave, but it often feels out of reach. We may think it’s a feeling that arrives when circumstances are perfect—when life is free of conflicts, responsibilities are manageable, and everything is under control. However, true peace is more about inner alignment than external perfection. The real peace that endures comes when we start to see and understand how the pieces of our lives contribute to a meaningful whole. Every aspect of our life is part of the journey to personal peace. Yet, some pieces are harder to accept, especially if they don’t fit our initial expectations. Maybe it’s an unexpected pregnancy, maybe it’s a struggle with infertility, or maybe it’s a relationship that is struggling. When we try to control or force pieces into a certain place, we experience stress, and peace feels farther away. True peace, however, often arises when we accept each piece for what it is and trust that it has a purpose, even if we can’t yet see where it fits. Life’s turning points can feel like magical moments, when suddenly, things begin to make sense. These moments often arrive unexpectedly. Sometimes, we realize that a seemingly insurmountable barrier led us to a new path, or a difficult time taught us resilience. Recognizing these connections between different “pieces” brings a sense of relief and gratitude, and, as a result, peace starts to replace tension. Being Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Services Social workers gives us a front row seat to watch families put the pieces together, to watch things fall into place and for real peace to settle in during a period in their lives when peace seemed unattainable. It’s the reassurance that everything—even the imperfect pieces—contributes to a meaningful whole. Written By: Kris Haycraft Director of Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption Services

Kris Haycraft, the Director of the Pregnancy, Parenting, and Adoption program at Catholic Charities North Dakota was honored at the 2024 Annual Hero Bash for her work with the Bundle Up Your Baby Bump events. Kris was one of five recipients of the Community Hero award given for individuals who make a difference in the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo Community. In the fall of 2020, Kris began hosting Bundle Up Your Baby Bump events. This event started in Fargo and has expanded to Wahpeton, Williston, Minot, and Bismarck. Bundle Up Your Baby Bump is a free shopping event for expectant parents to get the supplies they need for their babies and children. All year long the PPAS program collects gently used baby supplies from parents who no longer need them and then give them away two times a year at our Bundle Up Your Baby Bump events. These events are hosted in the fall and the spring. Bundle Up Your Baby Bump has been instrumental in giving back to families in need in the Fargo/Moorhead/West Fargo. In the last four years Kris and Catholic Charities North Dakota have helped hundreds of families get what they need to care for their children. The added benefit is that families now know a good place to take used baby supplies where they can make an impact in the community. Kris’s work at Catholic Charities North Dakota and with the Bundle Up Your Baby Bump event is nothing short of inspiring. The care and compassion that she brings to her work and to her clients is evident every single day. Kris has made Bundle Up Your Baby Bump her passion project and is the reason it has been so successful in helping the community. A lot of work goes into preparing for Bundle Up Your Baby Bump and Kris goes above and beyond. In the six months that lead up to each event, Kris collects all the donations and then takes the clothes and blankets home to wash and fold them. What she doesn’t do herself, she organizes volunteers to help her. She is often out in the community advocating for her program and advertising Bundle Up Your Baby Bump to reach more families in need. While there are volunteers on the day before the event for set up and on the day of the event, all the work that leads up the event is completed by Kris and her small PPAS team. Kris dedicates countless hours to helping families in our community through her program and Bundle Up Your Baby Bump. The passion she has for service is unmatched and I truly believe she is a HERO in our community. Written By: Alyssa Yanish Director of Marketing

Across the wide-open expanses of North Dakota, Catholic Charities North Dakota aims to provide essential guardianship services to vulnerable adults, fostering a sense of security and support within our tight-knit communities. The journey to secure the well-being of incapacitated individuals is often fraught with challenges, yet our dedicated staff are here to provide essential support that fosters peace and stability in the lives of those we serve. For those in our care—individuals facing cognitive impairments, disabilities, or health crises, the world can feel overwhelming. Navigating complex medical systems, legal matters, finances and daily decisions can be daunting. Our guardian’s step in as compassionate advocates, ensuring that these individuals have a voice in their care and decisions. The role of a guardian extends beyond just legal representation. It encompasses a deep commitment to understanding the unique needs and preferences of the individual. By building trusting relationships, our guardians create an environment where vulnerable adults feel safe and valued. This connection is vital; it empowers individuals to regain a sense of control over their lives, even in the face of adversity. One of the most significant ways our guardians provide peace is through regular communication with their clients. They maintain open lines of dialogue with their clients, family members, and healthcare providers. This transparency not only fosters trust but also ensures that all decisions are made collaboratively and with the individual’s best interests in mind. Knowing that someone is consistently looking out for their well-being alleviates stress and anxiety, allowing vulnerable adults to focus on their health and happiness. Our guardians also play a crucial role in crisis management. When emergencies arise—be it a medical issue, housing concern, or personal crisis—their expertise and proactive approach make a world of difference. They are trained to handle difficult situations with sensitivity and skill, ensuring that their clients receive the necessary support and care. This ability to navigate crises not only protects individuals but also provides peace of mind for families who may feel helpless in challenging times. Moreover, our guardians are deeply committed to promoting the dignity and autonomy of their clients. They strive to respect individual preferences, ensuring that the personal values and wishes of those they serve are honored. This approach fosters a sense of agency and empowerment, helping vulnerable adults feel that their lives still hold meaning and purpose. As we reflect on the impact of our guardianship services, it’s clear that the peace of mind we provide is invaluable. Every day, our guardians make a tangible difference in the lives of vulnerable adults, ensuring they are treated with respect and compassion. This commitment to quality care not only enhances the well-being of our clients but also uplifts families who can rest easier knowing their loved ones are in capable hands. We believe that every vulnerable adult deserves to live with dignity and peace of mind. Our guardians are dedicated to making that a reality. Together, we are helping to foster communities where everyone can thrive. Written By: Neal Hines Assistant Director of GSV