Churches United receives surprise donation from Cargill

$3,000 donation comes at critical moment when November SNAP benefits are paused and federal workers stretch dollars due to government shutdown

Cargill has donated $3,000 to Churches United to help fight food insecurity in our community.

The surprise donation comes at a critical time, as community members grapple with putting food on the table due to the ongoing government shutdown. SNAP benefits have been halted for November until the government reopens, and federal workers are stretching every dollar until they get their next paycheck.

Churches United is thankful for Cargill’s contribution, which will help stock our food pantry and kitchen as more community members utilize Dorothy Day Food Pantry and the Micah’s Mission kitchen for hot meals during this period of uncertainty.

Dorothy Day Food Pantry serves about 350 households a week, while Micah’s Mission serves 350 hot meals every single day. Those numbers are likely to climb in the coming days and weeks, and have been climbing well before the shutdown. Last week, a record 410 households visited the food pantry.  

“We are grateful for Cargill, which recognized the immediate need in our community and took action to help put food on the table for our neighbors,” Churches United CEO Pastor Devlyn Brooks said. “Their contribution enables us to meet the need in this moment, and continue to assist SNAP recipients and federal employees while they wait for the government to reopen.”

Some 7,700 people in Clay County receive SNAP benefits. In Minnesota, 440,000-plus people receive benefits, 36% of whom are children and 18% are seniors. Across the border in North Dakota, approximately 57,000 people rely on SNAP benefits.