McKenzie County Food Pantry reports record-setting number of families in need
Kristen Jones
Farmer Staff Writer
“The goal of the McKenzie County Food Pantry is to assist those in need of food, and to ensure they receive quality, nutritious food,” said Mitch Haugeberg, a McKenzie County Food Pantry volunteer. “The food pantry does not supply a family’s complete food demands; we offer supplemental food for those in need.”
The McKenzie County Food Pantry (MCFP) serves the entire county, including Mandaree, New Town, Keene, Killdeer, Grassy Butte, Fairview and Cartwright.
Over the decades that the food pantry has been in operation, there has been significant growth in not only the need for food, but the volume of people in need. According to Haugeberg, 15 years ago the pantry served between three and ten families each week. That is a sharp contrast to the last handout day during the week of Thanksgiving. The food pantry reported an all-time high of 131 families, or around 500 people, seeking assistance, including 19 families looking for help from the food pantry for the first time.
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