Darrell Vasvick has operated A Place for Hope — a social center for those recovering from mental illness, along with Moorhead’s largest food shelf — with the help of volunteers since 2018. (Photos/Nancy Hanson.)
Volunteers Allen Skabo and Brent Kangas, both members of the Dilworth Lions Club, sort a delivery at the food shelf at A Place for Hope.
Brent Kangas awaits unloading of food delivered by the Great Plains Food Bank as part of its Retail Rescue recovery program.
Nancy Edmonds Hanson
The largest public food shelf in Clay County is gearing up to meet increasing needs, as uncertainty surrounds SNAP payments come Nov. 1.
An emergency campaign had already been launched by the food shelf at A Place for Hope earlier this month when the U.S. Department of Agriculture announced no funds would be forthcoming in November for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program.
For Darrell Vasvick, executive director of A Place for Hope, the bad news only compounds the challenges facing the recovery and wellness center he’s managed for almost eight years. The nonprofit is asking for the community’s support to raise $50,000 by the end of the year – funds that were already needed, well before public benefits were stopped. “With the number of guests increasing every month, we need to expand our operating hours, offset new delivery charges and ensure an adequate inventory of groceries to meet the needs of hungry, hard-pressed families and individuals,” he said.
“This isn’t about panic — it’s about possibility,” added Ryan Goellner, who chairs the nonprofit’s board. “We have an opportunity to come together as a community to make sure that when more families come to our door, we’re ready to serve them.”
Located at 2419 12th Ave. S. in Moorhead’s original industrial area, the nonprofit operates a food shelf that has distributed nearly half a million pounds of shelf-stable, fresh and frozen food since the beginning of 2025. During the first half of October, 767 guests had visited the pantry, located in an industrial building next door to the recovery center whose name it bears. Nearly half a million pounds of food have been distributed from Jan. 1 to Sept. 30 – two-thirds to Minnesota residents, and one-third to North Dakotans.
In 2024, the food shelf served a total of 11,500 families and individuals. To qualify, guests complete a form provided by the Minnesota Department of Children, Youth and Families. Eligibility is based on annual income at or below guidelines. For one-person households, that’s $46,950 or less. Those with two mouths to feed can earn up to $63,450. The income amount goes up to $96,450 for four and $162,450 for households of eight.
Founded in 1998, A Place for Hope was established to provide a setting where people recovering from mental illness can socialize, explore their interests and hobbies, and learn new skills. When COVID shut down its in-person activities in 2020, director Vasvick and the board added a food shelf where home-bound members could safely acquire food.
The food shelf grew. As time passed, an increasing number of people not involved in the mental wellness program began to depend on the program for food to supplement their budgets. Up until now, the shelves have been stocked with USDA food distributed by the Great Plains Food Bank. That has changed. Now, the provider has been changed by The Emergency Food Assistance Program, a division of the Minnesota department; A Place for Hope’s supplier is ow the North Country Food Bank in Crookston. Great Plains continues to provide fresh and frozen foods contributed by area supermarkets through the Retail Rescue Program.
Vasvick is the only salaried employee of A Place for Hope. Volunteers make up the rest of the center and food shelf’s staffing. Many come from the Dilworth Lions Club. Some 40 now help throughout the week. He notes that about half of the volunteers are also members of the recovery and wellness center. Together, they donate more than 1,300 hours of service each month.
The mental health part of its program is supported by appropriations by Clay County and the Mental Health Initiative of Clay, Becker, Otter Tail and Wilkin Counties – $133,301 in 2024. Support also has come from grants from American Cry7stal Sugar, the Barry Foundation, and the Dilworth Lions and F-M Sertoma clubs. In the past, the Otto Bremer Foundation has been a major supporter. After Bremer Financial’s recent sale, however, its guidelines have changed; only charities with budgets of of $2 million or more now qualify.
Gate City Bank, a long-time supporter, has made the first major gift to the present $50,000 campaign. Its representatives recently presented $10,000 to kick off the campaign, which continues through year’s end.
A Place for Hope and its food shelf are open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. Appointments are required for food shelf visits, which include the assistance of a personal shopper. For more information about A Place for Hope and to donate to its food shelf, go to www.aplace4hope.org. Or call the center at (318) 284-6069.
