Community Steps Up In Time Of Need
By Jessica Wald
Last week ND Governor Armstrong directed $915,000 to Great Plains Food Bank, $600,000 to fund Women, Infants & Children program through November.
He has directed more than $1.5 million in state funds to support food assistance programs during the ongoing federal government shutdown (since October 1, 2025).
Logan County Food Pantry Coordinator Lila Wirt, rural Napoleon, said she had concerns after learning SNAP beneficiaries won’t be getting their funds. “The Great Plains Food Bank and the community is going above and beyond,” she said during this difficult time. She noted of the 450,000 pounds of food, which will be distributed with state funds around the state, Logan County Food Pantry has received about 1,000 pounds of food from the source. She said the pantry receives one truck load a month and the order will be able to be about doubled in November, due to the help of the additional funding.
Logan County Courthouse employees also came together last week after hearing people in need won’t receive their food benefits and started a spontaneous “Thanksgiving Food Drive” within the community. “What are those families going to do?” asked Logan County Recorder/Clerk of Court Laura Henry, who helped coordinate the pantry in the past, when it was located in the courthouse. She said the situation tugged at their hearts and the employees wanted to do something about it.
After only about a day of getting the word out about the food drive, Henry said some of their office space was filled with food and paper goods donated by community members.
“It was unbelievable,” said Wirt as she. . .