GRAND FORKS, ND (October 19, 2019) – HOPE Church, ECC congregation, opened its parking lot this week to more than 30 RV’ers working the seasonal sugar beet harvest who were forced to relocate from a campground when the Red River flooded Monday.
Members of the church served lunch to the workers today. American Crystal Sugar paid for the meal.
The church’s Community Care Center and Food Pantry is making food available to the workers, said pastor Paul Knight.
The campground will not reopen this season. Scott Lindgren, managing partner at Express Employment Professionals, told the Grand Forks Herald they are seeking a more permanent solution because people are running on small generators.
“We’ve told them they could stay as long as they like,” Knight said.
The church of more than 800 people is located in the Grand Cities Mall, which it purchased in 2015. Retail spaces still operate in the mall.
