SIOUX FALLS
- 605.335.0364
3511 N. First Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57104-0706
RAPID CITY - 605.348.2689
1111 N. Creek Drive
Rapid City, SD 57703-2219
PIERRE - 605.494.3663
2900 Airport Road
Pierre, SD 57501-5660
FALL 2014
Wear ORANGE to Spread Hunger Awareness
September is one of the most important months for hunger
awareness. Each year, September becomes Go Orange
for Hunger month, which is a part of a national movement
through Feeding America. Food banks across the country
join with their local communities to help spread the word
about the issue of hunger.
In South Dakota, 1
in every 8 people
struggle with hunger,
with 1 in every 5
children being food
insecure. At Feeding
South Dakota, we
work each day to
get food out to those in need through our programs like
the Food Pantry, Food Bank, Mobile Food Pantry, Senior
Box Program, and BackPack Program. This past year, we
distributed 10.4 million meals to help fight hunger.
In South Dakota, 1 in every 8
people struggle with hunger,
with 1 in every 5 children
being food insecure.
www.feedingsouthdakota.org
You can join us in this fight. This September, partner with
us by gathering your friends, family, or co-workers. You
can organize a food drive. Post our 30 Ways in 30 Days
calendar on your fridge or in a break room. Encourage your
employer to post a hunger fact on their marquee or have
your kids participate in the coloring contest found on our
website.
Hunger Action Month kicks off with Go Orange Day on
September 4th. You can participate by wearing orange and
changing your profile picture on your social media site.
We will also have images available for you to share with
your friends. You can find these images at the beginning of
September by visiting our Facebook page at facebook.com/
FeedingSD.
For more information, visit our Hunger Action Month
website at FeedingSouthDakota.org/hunger-in-sd/hungeraction-month. Thank you for playing a critical role in
Feeding South Dakota.
Director’s
Report
Board of Directors
Ray Thompson, President
Thompson Financial Services
Pat Mahon, Vice President
SD School of Mines & Technology
Larry Riddle, Treasurer
Riddle’s Group
Lesa Jarding, Secretary
Wells Fargo
Rebekah Cradduck, Past President
SD Association of Healthcare Organizations
Rich Aguilar
Citicorp
Dick Birath
First PREMIER/PREMIER Bankcard
Steve Erpenbach
SDSU Foundation
Connie Halverson
Delta Dental of South Dakota
John Hinrichs
State of South Dakota
It seems as though once
school lets out for the
summer, it quickly begins
again in the fall. As
children begin preparing
for a new school year,
we are doing the same at
Feeding South Dakota.
Last year, our Board of
Directors approved the
change to a fiscal year
ending June 30 to better
align with our programs.
Looking at last year’s figures, we are overwhelmed with appreciation for
the generosity of our partners; people like you, who donated your time,
talents, and treasures to the fight against hunger. Thanks to your support,
we were able to serve more individuals and families in need than ever
before.
As we approach a new fiscal year, we ask that you continue to stand
firm with us in the fight to eliminate hunger. We need your help. The
number of children, adults, and seniors who are missing meals continues
to increase each and every day. Hunger knows no season and is a daily
struggle for the individuals and families that we serve.
We look forward to the upcoming 2014-2015 fiscal year and hope you
will join us in raising awareness about the issue of hunger across South
Dakota during Hunger Action Month this September. Our motto is “I am
Feeding South Dakota,” and “We are Feeding South Dakota” because
when we work together, we can solve hunger.
Shawn Lohnes
Midcontinent Communications
Bob Miller
BankWest
Teddi Mueller
South Dakota Corn
Max Sandlin
Mercury
Julie Schmitz Jensen
Rapid City Convention & Visitors Bureau
Kaylynn Two Bulls
Graduate Student Intern
Matt Gassen
Executive Director
Donor Spotlight
Volunteer Spotlight
Hooked on helping
by Russ Hofeldt, Central Operations Manager
Since 1999, Celebrate Community Church
has been reaching out to hungry souls
longing for a spiritual relationship. From
the beginning, the vision of the church has
always been to impact the community in a
powerful way and to create relationships
that address the needs of individuals in
the Sioux Falls community.
Celebrate works hard to respond to
needs that are prevalent in the
community, and provide ways that
individuals can participate in making a
difference. Rather than just contributing
funds to a cause, the leaders at
Celebrate choose to build partnerships
with community organizations that allow
Celebrators to become involved on a
personal level. “When our people can
see the life-changing difference that
both their time and donations can make
in the community, it fuels an emotional
connection that can’t be matched,” said
Ryan Vanderbush, staff member at
Celebrate.
Recently, Celebrate stepped up to support
all of the children at Lowell Elementary
receiving weekend food packages from
the BackPack Program. This support came
from their ministry, which is aimed toward
children and their spiritual development.
Last year, 92 percent of families at Lowell
Elementary School received free and
reduced lunch, and 200 children were
provided with a weekend food package
from the BackPack Program.
Vanderbush said, “This was personal
to us because there are people from
Celebrate who are teachers at Lowell,
and it’s through these relationships
that the passion for supporting Lowell
originated. It’s devastating that for many
children in Sioux Falls, the basic need of
an adequate food supply goes unmet, and
we can’t sit idly and watch that happen.”
Celebrate hopes this support not only
helps fill the tummies of hungry children,
but also shows the community that it is
important to join arms to fight hunger.
“The need is too large for any one
organization or church to fully support. It
takes all of us working together to make
the difference.”
Growing up on a farm near Milbank, SD, Lynell Asher’s
parents instilled in her a strong work ethic and an even
stronger desire to help others. After dedicating 35 years
to the teaching profession, primarily at the middle school
level in language arts, Asher’s retirement has been
anything but uneventful. The day after she retired in
2011, she jumped on the volunteer wagon by helping fill
sandbags for flood preparation. This eventually led to
further volunteerism to remove those same sandbags
and assisting at the Oahe Flood Helpline.
From that point on, Asher was hooked on helping her community. Besides assisting at
the Pierre Food Pantry, she volunteers with the Pierre Chamber of Commerce, Capital
Area United Way, Pierre Go Green efforts, Kids Safe Saturday, Discover Center, and
Capital Christmas Trees…to name a few.
Dedicating more than 80 hours of her time in 2013, Asher filled Senior Boxes and
sorted through pallets of food donations at Feeding South Dakota’s Pierre facility. Not
only does she work hard to help those who are not as fortunate, she boasts, “The
workout is awesome!” Asher is an integral part of our effort to feed hungry people in
central South Dakota.
Lynell Asher is a wonderful volunteer and a great asset to Feeding South Dakota. The
staff here at Feeding South Dakota in Pierre know who we can count on each and
every time a volunteer project arises. She is a great recruiter and leader for her fellow
volunteers.
Staff Spotlight
by Shawna Gray, Pantry Manager
Following My Heart
My dad was the hardest working man I know. He instilled values in his family that my
siblings and I will forever remember. Treating all individuals equally and with dignity is
just one lesson I will continue to carry with me as I start with Feeding South Dakota as
the Pantry Manager at the Rapid City Food Pantry.
Helping others is something that has always brought me great joy. My experience
in public service started in 2008 working for the Department of Labor & Regulation. I
found a niche in case management, as there are so many other factors that affect a
person’s ability to obtain and maintain employment. It was the connection to building
a better life for my clients that led me to work for Behavior Management Systems. I
served a population diagnosed with severe and persistent mental illness by assisting
with employment, housing, economic benefits, advocacy, and access to food.
The Food Pantry Program has played an important role in my public service career.
For those trying to get back on their feet, it has helped individuals and families put food
on the table so the lights can stay on and rent can be paid when budgets are tight.
The thought of people going hungry is unacceptable. For years I have been actively
involved in organizations that concentrate on community service and I found that is
truly where my heart is.
As a role model, Maya Angelou has taught me to be a better person – when we know
better, we do better. It is important to continue to build awareness of the need for the
Food Pantry Programs, even local programs, across the state. I am eager to begin
work and look forward to building partnerships within the community and fostering
relationships with those we serve.
www.feedingsouthdakota.org
Upcoming Events
Holiday Turkey Drive
Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls | November 10-21
This November we will again be looking to local communities to help supply donated turkeys to distribute to families who do not have the
resources to provide themselves a traditional Thanksgiving meal. Store bought turkeys can be dropped off at any of our locations. You will
also be able to donate online during this time and request that your donation be used to purchase Thanksgiving meals.
South Dakota Showdown Series
Sioux Falls | November 22
The South Dakota Showdown series was launched last fall beginning a year-long collegiate
athletics and academic competition between South Dakota State University and the University
of South Dakota. The South Dakota Showdown Series, presented by South Dakota Corn,
operates on a point system in which each school can earn a maximum of 24 points per year
based on head-to-head competition and Summit League Championship finishes between the South Dakota State University Jackrabbits
and the University of South Dakota Coyotes in a total of 17 men’s and women’s sports. Complementing the competition aspect, SDSU,
USD and South Dakota Corn have designated Feeding South Dakota as the non-profit organization to benefit from the rivalry series’ launch.
Fans attending Showdown Series’ head-to-head athletic events are encouraged to show their team support, by supporting Feeding South
Dakota through a food drive competition.
Join us in Brookings on November 22 at 2:00pm to watch these two teams battle the ultimate “Showdown!” as they also help
battle the issue of hunger across South Dakota.
Boy Scout Food Drive
Rapid City and Sioux Falls | December 13 (RC) & November 1 (SF)
In the late fall every year, Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops join forces collect
nonperishable food donations by going door to door throughout the communities of
Sioux Falls and Rapid City. Through the efforts of these young men, Feeding South
Dakota collectively receives over 60,000 pounds in much-needed food to support our
Food Pantry Programs.
For more information, follow us on facebook, www.facebook.com/FeedingSD,
or visit our website, www.feedingsouthdakota.org.
Spreading Awareness One Mile at a Time
Even with scattered showers and strong winds, bikers came out for a two-day motorcycle ride
across all Missouri River bridges in South Dakota June 30-July 1. Far from causing trouble,
these riders hit the road for a different cause – help raise awareness about the issue of
childhood hunger and raise funds to support feeding programs for children. It is proven that
children who have adequate access to good meals are more likely to succeed in school and
to have fewer learning and behavioral problems. In the Sioux Empire and Black Hills Regions,
Feeding South Dakota’s BackPack Program aims to fill the hunger gap that exists on the
weekend when children cannot participate in school breakfast and lunch programs. In addition,
throughout the state there are many other partner agencies operating similar programs aimed
at feeding hungry children in need. Feeding South Dakota is incredibly grateful to Pastor
Schwan, and those who participated in the two-day motorcycle ride, for helping work toward
our goal of eliminating childhood hunger across South Dakota. Through pledges and
donations collected during and after the 1,200 mile ride, nearly $2,000 was raised and will
stay in communities to support local childhood feeding programs.