Growing Connection in Fargo-Moorhead and Beyond: RDO Helps Hope Blooms Expand Its Programs’ Reach

For one day each year, a simple baked potato brings the community together for something much bigger.

A 100% volunteer led event organized and run by R.D. Offutt Company team members, RDO Caters Taters celebrated Hope Blooms during the 27th annual baked potato luncheon, raising $104,480 for the Fargo-based nonprofit. The organization repurposes donated flowers into bouquets for people experiencing illness, loss, loneliness and other difficult seasons of life. Through every bouquet delivered, Hope Blooms shares one powerful message: you matter.

The annual fundraiser welcomed hundreds of community members, sponsors, volunteers and RDO team members to support Hope Blooms’ mission. Guests purchased $10 baked-potato meals, participated in the event raffle and contributed through donations, with 100% of funds raised directly benefiting the nonprofit.

“Hope Blooms is honored to partner with RDO Caters Taters because our organizations share a commitment to community, connection and service,” said Kelly Krenzel, Hope Blooms founder and executive director. “This support will help us create more moments of joy and remind more people throughout our region that they matter and are not alone.”

Hope Blooms’ Mission-Ready Delivery Van, Ready for Rural Communities 

Funds raised through this year’s event will support the purchase of a mission-ready delivery van, helping Hope Blooms transport flowers, supplies and volunteers more safely and efficiently while expanding its service to individuals experiencing loneliness or hardship across the region.

The additional transportation capacity will help Hope Blooms increase its outreach beyond Fargo-Moorhead, reaching communities such as Casselton, Lisbon, Wahpeton, Breckenridge and Fergus Falls. With more reliable transportation, volunteers will be able to deliver additional bouquets and create more meaningful moments of connection for people who may be facing isolation, illness, grief or other challenges.

Hope Blooms serves seniors in hospice, nursing homes, long-term care and memory care settings. The organization also partners with nearly 100 community organizations, including shelters, food pantries, recovery centers, cancer centers and other programs supporting individuals and families throughout the region.

“Through their kindness and creativity, the Hope Blooms team reminds people throughout our communities that they are not alone,” said Tim Curoe, chief executive officer of R.D. Offutt Company. “We are proud that this year’s RDO Caters Taters will help expand Hope Blooms’ mission and extend their reach into more communities across the region.”

Building Community Through a Simple Potato

Since its beginning, RDO Caters Taters has focused on a simple idea: bringing people together to help neighbors in need.

What started as a baked potato luncheon has become a Fargo tradition powered by R.D. Offutt team member volunteerism, local sponsorships and community generosity. Year after year, hundreds of volunteers contribute their time to prepare, serve, and organize the event, transforming a simple meal into an opportunity to strengthen connections and support local nonprofits making a difference. This year, RDO Caters Taters sold out of their dining and take out orders, serving more 2,000 people and raising 10 times more funds than RDO Caters Taters’ inaugural year.

The partnership with Hope Blooms reflects that shared commitment to creating community, fostering belonging, and ensuring people feel seen and supported when they need it most.

More Than Two Decades of Giving Back

Since 2000, RDO Caters Taters has raised more than $1.4 million through baked potato sales, raffle tickets, sponsorships and donations. Over the years, the event has supported more than a dozen local nonprofits, including Red River Children’s Advocacy Center, Farm in the Dell of the Red River Valley, HOPE, INC., Jeremiah Program of Fargo-Moorhead, BIO Girls, Great Plains Food Bank, PATH of North Dakota, Valley Senior Services and many others.

In 2026, RDO Caters Taters partnered with sponsors who help us with both cash and in-kind contributions. See the full list of sponsors below.

Thank you to the community members, sponsors, volunteers and beneficiaries who continue to make RDO Caters Taters possible year after year.

Applications for next year’s RDO Caters Taters beneficiary will open in early 2027. To stay informed about future events, like RDO Caters Taters on Facebook or Instagram.