Friends-of-Friends : Fiscal Accounts : Partnerships : United Way of Douglas & Pope Counties

Investing in a Thriving Community One Backpack at a Time

At Lakes and Prairie United Way, we believe no child should go hungry. Friends-of-Friends Fighting Hunger is a locally grown initiative that has raised nearly $1.2 million to support food access programs across Otter Tail and Wadena Counties. These funds provide critical support to local food shelves and the Children’s Weekend Feeding Backpack Program, which provides nutritious food to students during the school year for the weekend.

Your support of this initiative helps children arrive at school ready to learn, helps families access nutritious meals during difficult times, and helps build stronger, more resilient communities.

Why It Matters

Hunger affects every part of a child’s life. It impacts their health, their academic success, and their emotional well-being:

Children facing hunger are sick more often, recover more slowly, and are at higher risk of hospitalization.
Hunger reduces focus, retention, and performance in school.
Lack of food contributes to behavioral and emotional challenges, increasing anxiety and aggression in children and teens.

By supporting this program, you are fueling long-term impact in all four of United Way’s focus areas:

Youth Opportunity: Children arrive at school nourished and ready to learn.
Financial Security: Families gain consistent access to food, easing one of the most basic financial burdens.
Healthy Communities: Kids have better health outcomes and fewer long-term complications from chronic hunger.
Community Resiliency: Our local food shelves and schools are strengthened through partnership and support.

Make a Difference

Your gift will directly support families and children in our region. Every dollar stays local and goes where it's needed most.

$170 fills a backpack with weekend food for one child for the full school year
$500 makes you a sponsor of a local food shelf in Otter Tail County or the city of Wadena
$1,770 fills backpacks for 10 children for the school year
$5,000 earns you recognition as a Food Shelf Partner, supporting system-wide hunger relief