LAKE AGASSIZ REGIONAL LIBRARY LAUNCHES “FOOD FOR FINES” IN DECEMBER
MOORHEAD – Lake Agassiz Regional Library (LARL) announces the return of its “Food for Fines” program, offered region-wide throughout the month of December. This popular library amnesty initiative provides customers with a simple, meaningful way to clear late fees while giving back to their communities.
During the entire month, patrons may bring their overdue items along with a non-perishable and unexpired food items to any LARL location. For each donated item, $2 in late fees will be waived from their account.
“Food for Fines is a wonderful opportunity for customers to reduce or eliminate late fees while supporting local food shelves during a time of high need,” said Liz Lynch, Executive Director. “Libraries are community-centered spaces, and this program allows us to connect generosity with access.”
All donations collected through the program will be distributed to local food shelves and community organizations throughout the LARL service area. The program applies to late fees only and does not cover lost or damaged materials.
For more information or to locate the nearest LARL location, please visit larl.org.
FARGO CASS PUBLIC HEALTH WINTER WARMING OPERATION OPEN
Temporary operations will begin at the current Downtown Engagement Center
FARGO – Fargo Cass Public Health (FCPH) opened the 2025-2026 Winter Warming Operation on Monday, November 24, at the site of the current Downtown Engagement Center (DEC), located at 222 4th Street North, Fargo. Winter Warming will operate on the main level of the DEC from 8 p.m. to 8 a.m. and will have the capacity to accommodate 50 to 55 individuals per night.
Winter Warming is the City of Fargo’s proactive plan to assist individuals experiencing homelessness when area shelters have reached their capacity. It serves to protect some of the most vulnerable members of the community by preventing negative health impacts and cold weather-related injuries during the coldest months. Winter Warming is not intended to meet all the needs of unhoused individuals in our community as both resources and capacity are limited. Throughout the Winter Warming operation, staff will continue engagement activities with guests to assist with referrals to housing, medical, behavioral health and other needs.
The City of Fargo and FCPH are currently in the process of relocating DEC services to a new space at 2001 1st Avenue North in Fargo. Upon completion of initial renovations at that location, Winter Warming will transition to that space. The date for the transition has not yet been determined.
The 2024-2025 Winter Warming Operation took place at 1230 25th Street South, on the far west side of the main FCPH building. Throughout the 2024-2025 operation, there were 8,553 total encounters with an average of 44 individuals served each night. There were 668 unique individuals served.
Quick Facts:
Individuals aged 18 and older who have no other overnight shelter option are eligible for Winter Warming.
During the intake process at the DEC, staff will work to connect individuals needing access to a winter warming overnight option with appropriate and available shelter beds in the community.
Individuals not able to be connected with an alternate available shelter space may be considered for Winter Warming.
CNH, FARM IN THE DELL, AND GREAT PLAINS FOOD BANK ANNOUNCE “FEED OUR OWN BACKYARD” PARTNERSHIP TO BENEFIT LOCAL FAMILIES
MOORHEAD – Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley is proud to continue its mission of growing fresh produce for local communities. For the second year in a row, this effort has been strengthened through a partnership with the local CNH plant, which manufactures Case IH and New Holland agricultural equipment and CASE construction equipment. Together, Farm in the Dell and CNH are working toward the shared philanthropic goal of “feeding our own backyard.”
The two organizations have worked together to grow sweet corn and potatoes – produce items that were determined by the partnering organizations, including the Great Plains Food Bank, to have a high impact on local families and that would work well with Farm in the Dell’s and the Great Plains Food Bank’s needs and distribution models. Throughout the growing season, a portion of the produce was distributed and sold to Farm in the Dell shareholders and customers, supporting their mission of employing individuals with disabilities. The other portion of the produce has been distributed through the Great Plains Food Bank to provide food to our neighbors facing food insecurity, supporting their mission of ending hunger together.
To launch the harvest season, CNH, Farm in the Dell, and the Great Plains Food Bank engaged in a Harvest Day event on Wednesday, September 3 to pull items from the field, get them ready for distribution, and transport them to necessary distribution sites. This was such a fruitful day that allowed the mission of all three organizations to align in a meaningful way. The remainder of the crops were harvested by Farm in the Dell’s
Garden Engineers, their employees with disabilities. After the final harvest and produce distribution, 7,777 pounds of potatoes and 2,172 pounds of corn were donated to the Great Plains Food Bank – equaling 9,949 total pounds of produce.
Because all three organizations know that our community is at the heart of the work we do, we are thrilled to be able to enter into partnerships that allow us to give back and share the love that we are shown by our community.
CITY OF WEST FARGO ANNOUNCES CITY-WIDE TREE PRUNING PROJECT TO PROMOTE URBAN FOREST HEALTH
WEST FARGO – The City of West Fargo Department of Public Works is pleased to announce the launch of a city-wide tree pruning project aimed at improving the health, safety, and beauty of our urban forest. This initiative will begin in December 2025 and continue through April 2026, focusing on maintaining the city’s diverse tree population while ensuring public safety. City of West Fargo forestry staff will be conducting inspections throughout West Fargo neighborhoods and pruning the areas with the greatest needs.
Our trees are a vital part of the City of West Fargo community, providing shade, improving air quality, and enhancing the character of our neighborhoods. This pruning project is essential to preserving the long-term health of our urban forest while reducing potential hazards from overgrown or weakened branches.
Report any specific tree concerns in your neighborhood by contacting the Department of Public Works at 701-515-5400.
HOLIDAY LIGHT RECYCLING AND HOLIDAY SHOPPING-GENERATED CARDBOARD DISPOSAL OFFERED FREE-OF-CHARGE TO FARGO RESIDENTS
FARGO – The City of Fargo invites residents to dispose of their old or unwanted holiday lights free of charge. Residents are encouraged to take advantage of the free Holiday Lights Recycling Program to ensure lights are disposed of in the most environmentally friendly manner possible.
Residents can drop string lights (including LED lights and older styles of lights) at the Household Hazardous Waste Facility at 606 43 ½ St. N. between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday, now through January 31, 2026. Rope-style lights will not be accepted for recycling.
Fargo residents are also invited to utilize the free Residential Transfer Station to dispose of extra holiday shopping-generated cardboard and other household waste. The transfer station is located at the Fargo Landfill at 4501 7th Ave. N. Items accepted include cardboard, non-freon appliances and old furniture, among other items. Proof of residency is required to use the service. Commercial waste and building materials are not accepted.