Senior commodities are available by application. The Ellendale Community Food Pantry started in 1997 with Pastor Ellen Arthur and Christ the King Lutheran Church. Christ the King Church has been involved with Lutheran Social Services and Great Plains Food Bank of Fargo during this time. The food pantry for many years was located at Crabtree Insurance and was run by members of the church. In 2009,
the Dickey County Parish Nurse program began promoting the pantry as a service forcing the pantry to relocate to a larger and more accessible location. Helena’s Catholic Church agreed in 2011, to house the food pantry and to allow USDA commodities to be distributed from their church center. ND State 4-H ambassadors assisted with the transition, helping design and build the new pantry location. Also, USDA commodities, which was previously run through Community in Action now is operated and handled all through Great Plains Food Bank. Ellendale Community Food Pantry maintains membership with Great Plains Food Bank and receives the majority of their products through their warehouse and distribution center monthly allowing us to host open pantry nights monthly and commodity distribution quarterly.
