At Town & Country Credit Union, we’re proud to support the Minot community by serving as a food donation drop-off location for Backpack Buddies. Backpack Buddies provides weekend meals to local students experiencing food insecurity, helping ensure they have food to take home when school is out.

Our 31st Ave, Trinity, Temporary and Dakota Square branches are all accepting food donations. Community members can bring items from the Backpack Buddies shopping list to any of these locations and help make a difference for local students. Please avoid peanut butter items due to allergies.

Backpack Buddies Shopping List:

  • Crystal Light packets
  • Mac & cheese cups
  • Fruit snacks
  • Tuna — 3 oz. pouches
  • Instant oatmeal packets
  • Chicken ramen packets
  • Applesauce pouches
  • Granola bars (no peanut butter)
  • Canned chicken noodle soup
  • Single-serve cereal boxes
  • Chef Boyardee
  • Chicken salad kits
  • Individual snack packs — 1 oz. or larger:
    • Goldfish
    • Cheez-Its
    • Pretzels
    • Animal crackers
    • Chex Mix
    • Popcorn

Our involvement with Backpack Buddies is part of the Community Leadership Institute (CLI), an eight-week program through the Minot Area Chamber of Commerce that gives participants the opportunity to learn more about the community and find ways to get involved. Sadie Kuntz, Human Resources Generalist II, and Hannah Volk, Senior Business Loan Assistant, are participating in CLI as part of their ongoing professional development and chose to support Backpack Buddies through their experience.

We’re excited to help make giving back easy and accessible throughout Minot. Whether you can adopt a backpack buddy, donate one item, or fill a bag, every contribution can help provide a local child with meals for the weekend. Donations close October 21. 

Stop by one of our four Minot locations to drop off your donation and help us fill a backpack!