Local business now accepting donations for AMEN Food Pantry

Nodak Insurance, 103.7 The Connection and Aflac have partnered up to host a community food drive beginning Monday to help benefit AMEN Food Pantry and its near-empty shelves.

AMEN, the Association to Meet Emergency Needs, is a food pantry serving people in the Dickinson area with supplemental food needs in an effort to combat food insecurities.

“Fill the Pantry” kicked off Monday and will go through Friday, Oct. 22, at the Nodak Insurance building located at 2898 Fifth Ave. W. in Dickinson. Drop-off hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 8 a.m. to noon on Friday. Donations may also be made by appointment.

AMEN Food Pantry is currently in need of canned vegetables, cereal, canned soups, garden produce, toothpaste and brushes laundry and dish soap, shampoo and bar bath soap.

General Manager Heidi Larson of 103.7 The Connection noted that this is something that the businesses within the Nodak Insurance building wanted to participate in.

“I know Dickinson is an amazing community and we help each other out when there’s a need and I know even people that I’ve talked to already have said, ‘Oh wow. Yeah, we didn’t know there was a need. How can we help? When can we help?’” Larson said. “... We just want to get them restocked and let people know that the holidays are coming up and that’s usually when people are thinking about (donating).”

Cliff Weiler, who is an insurance agent and owns the Nodak Insurance building, noted that he feels honored to host this food drive.

"There's a great need out there for people that are going hungry in our community, and that food pantry is their source," Weiler said. "So I just think it's a privilege and an obligation to help the needy."

For each person that donates, their name will be entered into a daily drawing for a prize. At the end, all of the names will be placed in a final drawing.

“All of us have been blessed in one way shape or form, and to realize that there's people who are in need in our community, that's really humbling to realize that,” Larson said. “... Even if it's something big or small — it doesn't matter — if we can all do our part to help our neighbors that are truly in need.”