Brighten Your Day

North Dakota Woman Donates 3,100 Pounds Of Vegetables To Families In Need

November 2, 2018

A North Dakota woman has donated more than one and a half tons of vegetables to families in need this fall.

Donna Stumphf / Credit: Billings Gazette

Donna Stumphf, 67, brought the homegrown vegetables to the Salvation Army, and some to the Northlands Rescue Mission, over the course of several weeks.

"I decided to do something about the hunger problem," Stumphf said. "I had kids in mind, mainly, and parents who can't afford to buy fresh vegetables."

"I thought, I have to give myself a goal," she recalled. "You know, go big or go home."

She had set an initial goal of 1,000 pounds. But when she learned the total weight of her contribution reached 3,099 pounds, she was "in shock."

Stumphf grew the vegetables on a plot of land donated by All Seasons Garden Center in Grand Forks. In the past, All Seasons has donated plots in their community garden to worthy causes, but never an area as big or to one person.

"When she first came to us and we were looking at this piece, we thought, that's a lot for one person," said Jill Kiel, owner of the garden center.

Strumphf did have some help. Her 16-year-old grandson and local members of the Lions Club and UND students pitched in, too.

"She would call and let us know every week how things were going — just the elation in her voice, it was really cute," Kiel said. "When she surpassed her initial goal, there was kind of this, 'Where is this going to go?' You could tell she was so happy and so amazed."

When the produce weight went far beyond that goal, "there was pure joy in her voice," Kiel said.

"It's phenomenal what she's done. She's so excited for next year."