Heart-n-Soul Community Café in Fargo, North Dakota, has been awarded a significant donation of $25,000 from Gate City Bank as part of the annual Giving Hearts Day fundraising initiative. The announcement was made at the Dakota Medical Foundation, where donations came in continuously during the 24-hour event aimed at supporting local charities.
Leola Daul, the Founder and Executive Director of Heart-n-Soul Community Café, expressed gratitude for the support. “It means so much to know that Gate City Bank is investing so much into the community. It takes all of us to make a community strong,” she stated. The nonprofit organization addresses food insecurity by providing meals to those in need and offering locally sourced food through a pay-what-you-can model.
The generous donation will enable Heart-n-Soul Community Café to provide 2,000 meals through its mobile café, reaching community members who are facing hardships. “This gift keeps the food truck rolling into neighborhoods that need connection just as much as they need nourishment,” Daul added. “It strengthens our capacity to reach more people, more often and in more places throughout our community.”
Daul elaborated on the human impact of the funding, stating, “It funds the mother who quietly asks for an extra serving because her children are waiting at home. It funds the senior on a fixed income who has not shared a meal with someone in weeks. It funds the young adult who stops by not only because they are hungry, but because they know someone there will ask how they are doing and listen.”
Gate City Bank received a strong community response during the nomination phase, resulting in over 1 million nominations since tracking began in 2017. The contest has been a tradition since 2014, underscoring the bank’s commitment to community engagement. Amanda Torok, Senior Vice President of Culture at Gate City Bank, remarked, “This really reflects the heart of our communities. People want to help, and we love giving people a simple yet impactful way to support the causes that matter most to them.”
The bank selected the winner from a randomly chosen pool of finalists after the nomination period concluded. Gate City Bank’s total financial contribution to Giving Hearts Day has exceeded $230,000, demonstrating its commitment to philanthropy and community support. Torok emphasized the importance of such initiatives, stating, “We believe strongly that creating a better way of life means giving back to our communities through philanthropic giving and volunteering. Giving Hearts Day is a special time when our entire region is focused on making a difference for others.”
Since its inception in 2008 by the Dakota Medical Foundation, Giving Hearts Day has raised substantial funds for numerous charities across North Dakota and northwestern Minnesota. Gate City Bank has contributed more than $2.4 million and supported over 350 charities through this initiative, solidifying its role as a key player in community development and support.
