BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – Some students may spend most of their school year figuring out what\u2019s next for them. Sometimes that\u2019s academics, but other times, it\u2019s what they\u2019ll be able to eat that day.<\/p>\n
Now, a new student-led initiative in two North Dakota school districts is taking action this month to raise awareness about food insecurity and create meaningful change among their peers and in the broader community.<\/p>\n
\u201cEvery day I come to school, and I look around at all these people, and I don\u2019t know if they had breakfast that morning,\u201d said Berniece Debertin, a junior at Legacy High helping lead \u201cBis-Man Gives A Can.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cOne in five children are seen as hungry and not able to access food,\u201d said Kyla Anderson, a Legacy High senior also helping lead the program.<\/p>\n
While there are food pantries available, they noticed an increasing food crisis within their community and others as well.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe were like, \u2018Well, how can we get kids involved and also our community?\u2019 So, we came up with Bisman Gives a Can,\u201d said Kyla.<\/p>\n
The program is designed to make the schools across Bismarck and Mandan compete against one another.<\/p>\n
Two students from each district volunteer to help lead the community-wide food drive.<\/p>\n
This is not only meant to make it more enticing for them, but also to give them a chance to lead the way for a change.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think a lot of people will say, \u2018Well, they\u2019re just students, they\u2019re kids.\u2019 But many public Bismarck school students are getting food access through the schools because they have nowhere else to go,\u201d said Kyla.<\/p>\n
\u201cKids care too. People forget that we have a voice and we can make a difference,\u201d said Berniece.<\/p>\n
Their goal is to raise 2,000 items by Oct. 27 and to eventually make this a statewide effort in the next couple of years.<\/p>\n
Donations can be dropped off at any participating school.<\/p>\n
Participating schools currently include every high school in Bismarck and Mandan, as well as Saint Mary\u2019s and Shiloh.<\/p>\n
The districts will donate the collected items to the Great Plains Food Bank.<\/p>\n
On Oct. 26 and 27, non-perishable items can be brought to the Bismarck Event Center.<\/p>\n
Copyright 2026 KFYR. All rights reserved.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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