GRAND FORKS — A coat and food distribution provided free winter wear and a meal for residents in the community at the Gambucci Arena on Saturday, Sept. 24.
This is the fourth year the coat and food distribution event has been held. Grand Forks resident Jaime Verzosa started the event with the vision of getting the community together to give back. Verzosa, who has provided warm meals to Northlands Rescue Mission, worked with staff to plan out the distribution starting back in 2019.
“I know there was a time when I was hungry. I didn’t know what I was going to eat so [I’m] very blessed with where I’m at in life,” Verzosa said. “I just feel pushed to keep paying it forward. If I can do something to provide, I think that’s what my purpose in life is.”
Several organizations and businesses in the community help out with the coat distribution. One of those businesses is the Bubble Laundry Company, which has washed the donated coats for the past three years.
Jordan Rudnik, general manager of Bubble, said it has been great being a part of giving back to the community as people need to be able to pick up clean coats at the distribution.
“It’s just really good to be able to provide that,” Rudnik said.
Matthew Collings, marketing communications coordinator with Northlands Rescue Mission, said between 80–90% of the coats are donated by residents in the community and local churches donate as well.
Many volunteers said they enjoy seeing the community come together for a good cause. Virginia Pantzer, who helped out with cooking the food for the event with her husband, Bruce, said it was nice to give back by helping out.
“These are tough times so we want to be able to help people,” Pantzer said.
Meghan Arbegast/Grand Forks Herald
Volunteers Janet Nelson and Patrice Zeal, who both are with the local nonprofit Love in Action, said the distribution is necessary with the current economic challenges people are facing.
“With groceries being on the rise and gas prices and all that other stuff, we need to make sure that the people here especially in this environment have warm clothing,” Nelson said.
Meghan Arbegast/Grand Forks Herald
The distribution also had activities for kids as the fire department had a fire truck and mascot present, bouncy houses were set up and face painting was done by Josef’s School of Hair, Skin and Body.
