GRANVILLE, ND (KXNET) — Full minds and full bellies — that's what the Aggie Foundation hopes its recent donation of $39,000 to TGU Granville Schools' lunch program will be for its many students. The school got the money this September and reached out to the owner of Thirsty Beaver Bar, Dustin Frounfelter, who is partnered with the Aggie Foundation, to help students who are facing food insecurity. Frounfelter says that when he was approached by Granville faculty he was shocked by just how much of a need there was with students not being able to have a proper lunch. "When faculty tell you that kids have come to school the last year eating fruit snacks or just a peanut butter jelly sandwich every day, it kind of hit home a little bit that kids are in need," said Frounfelter. Since the donation the usage of the lunch program has continued to increase among students as the school year goes on. According to the Aggie Foundation, close to 30 additional students will be able to have free lunch during the school year because of the donation. "Some of the kids had never eaten lunch before and now they're getting a hot meal every day because they didn't have the opportunity before if families didn't have the money to pay for it, so now the only thing the family is responsible now is if the family wants seconds," said Frounfelter. 13th annual North Central Stand Down event back in Minot The Aggie Foundation has continued to fund projects like this through its charitable gaming efforts through gaming machines inside the Thirsty Beaver Bar in Granville. "All the money was made here in the bar off of gaming so the whole check came from the Aggie Foundation but all the money they made came from the Thirsty Beaver," said Frounfelter. Board President of the Aggie Foundation, Terry Peterson, says being able to make a real difference through the organization's efforts makes it all worth it. "You take a little bit of financial burden off, they're free to learn and participate in extracurriculars and a whole host of other things. It's not really the fun thing to fund but it's such an important thing to fund that contributes to their success and the return on investment with that is pretty big," said Peterson. Peterson says that being able to keep the money made from the Thirsty Beaver gaming machines in the community and give it to groups that need it is very valuable to the community. "This partnership between charitable gaming organizations and bars especially in smaller communities can be a huge thing and make a huge impact in these small communities when done right and the relationship is a positive one," said Peterson. But the help doesn't stop there, Thirsty Beaver will be holding a meat raffle on October 27. Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will go towards continuing to fund the Granville lunch program. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Today's Top Stories SIGN UP NOW