GRAND FORKS, N.D. - The newest grocery store in Grand Forks kept with its annual tradition of donating hams to hungry families in need.
Hornbacher's, which opened locally in October, donated 900 Cloverdale Foods hams Tuesday to the Salvation Army, which in turn incorporated them into food baskets for families signed up for Christmas assistance.
Hornbacher's President Matt Leiseth said the number of hams was based off what is normally donated in the Fargo-Moorhead area, something the company has done for the past eight years. "We want people to know they're not alone," Leiseth said. "There are lots of people in the Grand Forks area and businesses around that are really concerned about their well-being and we want to make sure in some small way, even if it's just a ham, that they have a good meal for Christmastime."
Much of the ham had been delivered to the Salvation Army by Tuesday afternoon and Major Jon Fjellman said food baskets containing enough for a day's worth of meals were distributed throughout the day.
Fjellman said 364 families had signed up, which meant the Salvation Army would be feeding 1,291 people with the baskets of ham and all the fixings. Toys were also handed out to families with children.
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"Then there are a lot of people who didn't sign up in time but because of this ham thing we may not be able to give them a whole basket but we will be able to give them a ham," he said.
The Salvation Army is serving twice as many families this December as it normally does during other months and many clients during the holiday season are there because they can't afford to feed their family or just lost a job, which Fjellman said sometimes turns into a happy ending when people are able to find work, no longer need the help and end up becoming donors themselves.
Other businesses in the Grand Forks area made contributions to the baskets including Folson Farms, American Crystal Sugar and North Dakota Mill and Elevator.
Along with the Christmas donation, Leiseth said Hornbacher's is pursuing other giving opportunities in Grand Forks, including looking to partner with the local chapter of the Village Family Service Center.
