The program is called “Adopt A Block.”
It’s an outgrowth of “The Banquet” – a meal outreach program, housed at Bismarck’s Trinity Lutheran Church. It serves free meals four times a week – dinner Tuesday and Thursday, and Lunch Saturday and Sunday.
“Adopt a Block” is the newest program.
"It's the outreach part of 'The Banquet,'" said Banquet chairman of the board Jim Barnhardt.
Barnhardt said “Adopt A Block” serves low income areas of Bismarck with a food distribution truck that sets up in designated areas and provides grocery items to those in need.
"People come to our table here," Barnhardt said. "They fill out a short form, and we get them set up with some groceries."
Barnhardt said local grocery stores have been generous with food donations.
The Banquet is also working with the Great Plains Food Bank.
"You're doing something that's unique to the state of North Dakota," the Food Bank's Nancy Carriveau said at a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony for "Adopt A Block."
Carriveau said the group should be very proud of what she called a "cutting-edge" program.
Barnhardt says so far, 515 households have participated in “Adopt A Block.”
"It's definitely reaching out into the community," Barnhardt said.