Essentia Health and Great Plains Food Bank Promote Food Resources as SNAP Benefits Pause

Essentia Health and the Great Plains Food Bank are highlighting resources available for impacted community members in response to the upcoming pause of the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits on Saturday.

As individuals look for food resources, Essentia is encouraging patients and residents across the region to use the online tool Resourceful, a free public platform that connects people to free or reduced-cost community-based programs, including food and nutrition services.

“Access to affordable, nutritious food is foundational to our health – and it’s a very real struggle for many of our neighbors, especially during the winter months. With the pause of SNAP benefits, we know food insecurity will be even more pronounced in the communities we serve,” said Jill Doberstein, Essentia Health community outreach program manager. “At Essentia, we are committed to helping our patients and communities access the resources they need during this uncertain time.”

Launched in 2021, Resourceful is available for anyone – community organizations, helpers and navigators, families and individuals – who wants to get connected to food, shelter, health care, transportation, financial assistance and more. The program connects people to services in North Dakota, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

Access to food continues to be a need in the communities Essentia serves, with over 1,300 referrals placed through Resourceful to food programs and resources so far in 2025. Food-related searches on the platform have increased this fall, from 475 searches in August to 675 in September and 729 through Oct. 28.

As North Dakota’s only food bank, the Great Plains Food Bank distributes over 15 million pounds of food and grocery products each year through nearly 200 partner food pantries and direct service programs across North Dakota and Clay County, Minnesota, reaching more than 160,000 individuals annually. One of Essentia Health’s key allies in connecting community members to food resources, the Great Plains Food Bank joined the Resourceful network in 2024.

The Great Plains Food Bank is currently preparing to support food shelves to meet the surge in demand expected in the weeks ahead. The goal is to raise the necessary funds to source and distribute an additional 1 million pounds of food.

“During times of uncertainty, we often see more neighbors turning to our network of food pantries and meal programs for support,” said Darby Njos, communications and marketing manager at the Great Plains Food Bank. “A government shutdown can quickly increase that need, especially if SNAP benefits are delayed or disrupted. Even a short pause in benefits or a missed paycheck can make it difficult for families to afford essentials like food, rent and utilities. We encourage anyone in need to visit our website to find local food pantries, our mobile food pantry routes and our pop-up pantry dates. For those who are able, we invite them to consider giving funds or grocery items because every contribution helps us ensure no one has to go without today, or in the weeks to come.”

To support the mission and work of the Great Plains Food Bank, Essentia has contributed $15,000 in funding for the current fiscal year (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2026). Essentia was also a main sponsor of this year’s Eighth Annual Hunger and Health Summit hosted by the Cass Clay Hunger Coalition (CCHC) on Thursday. This event brought together stakeholders to discuss local food insecurity, access to resources and the recent federal and state-level changes impacting food availability in our communities.

As a founding member of CCHC, Essentia plays an active role in strategic planning and collective impact strategies to reduce food insecurity across the region.

Learn more about Resourceful at WeAreResourceful.org. Resourceful is mobile-friendly.