Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, Feeding South Dakota’s Food Pantries in Rapid City and Sioux Falls are closed, but the warehouses in both towns and in Pierre are staffed and still packaging food donations.
At the Pierre location, the food distributed through the regular mobile food pantry is now all pre-packaged. Guests will not be able to choose their foods at the mobiles pantries in Pierre, Fort Pierre or at the regular distribution locations throughout central South Dakota.
Guests will not be asked to provide a photo ID, but staff and volunteers will be asking for, and tracking, first and last names, household size and a verbal declaration of household income. Government food commodities may be added to the distribution menu so that information is required.
The Feeding South Dakota Pierre location has various openings for volunteers to pack emergency food boxes for distribution. Go to their website for available days and times. While in the distribution center, volunteers are asked to wash hands regularly for 20 seconds, use hand sanitizer as needed, wear the gloves provided and to maintain appropriate social distancing.
Across the state, Feeding South Dakota will be distributing emergency food boxes, drive-thru style. People are asked to remain in their vehicles; staff and volunteers will be loading the food, one box per household, maximum two boxes per vehicle.
Feeding South Dakota’s Mobile Food Pantry Program will continue its regularly scheduled food distributions statewide, with the exception that the food will be in pre-packed boxes and bags and will be distributed drive-thru style. A listing of distributions by county can be found online at feedingsouthdakota.org/mobile.
Seniors in eastern and central South Dakota who are currently receiving food assistance through the Commodity Supplemental Food Program– or the “Senior Box Program”– will continue to receive their monthly box as usual.