Freezin' for a Reason - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Freezin' for a Reason

Minot State University students stood for a cause this afternoon in the somewhat chilly temps.
This past week was National Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week.
To raise awareness, The tenth annual Freezin' for a Reason food drive took place on Broadway this afternoon and Jordan Pederson reports that the event this year is more important than ever to the Minot Area Homeless Coalition.

Freezin' for a Reason...
The Students from the MSU Social Work Organization and Sociology Club did just that today.
(Ashley Barczewski, Minot State University Student) "We really want to promote that homelessness is around and especially in Minot."
Minot currently has eight soup kitchens and five main food pantries but they are having a hard accommodating the increased population.
(Ashley Barczewski, Minot State University Student) "There is a 50 percent increase in the food pantry use and a 30 percent increase in the soup kitchen use and people are having to resort to that."
(Mac McLeod, Executive Director, Minot Area Homeless Coalition)  "We have so many people coming in that our food pantries are just overwhelmed."
And homelessness has taken on a new definition here in Minot.
(Mac McLeod, Executive Director, Minot Area Homeless Coalition) "After the major flood last year, it just brought homelessness to a different level."
(Ashley Barczewski, Minot State University Student) "It's not just people living on the streets, but it is people bouncing from house to house."
70 empty boxes were lined up and ready to be filled --- and that food will eventually grace the shelves of Minot's food pantries.
(Ashley Barczewski, Minot State University Student) "It would be just awesome if we could fill them all up. That is our goal for the day."
The Holidays are the busiest time of the year for food pantries.
Members from the community dropped off non perishable food items or just a simple cash donation...
both reasons these students were outside freezing for
(Mac McLeod, Executive Director, Minot Area Homeless Coalition)  "The students took this upon themselves. Our community, the area surrounding Minot say 'Hey, look at these kids. I'm going to help where I can."
(Ashley Barczewski, MSU Student) "We are just running around trying to promote people to come in and get as much money and food as possible."
Jordan Pederson, KX News.

If you are interested in donating to the Minot Area Homeless Coalition or would like to know the location of the soup kitchens and pantries you can call 852-6300.