The Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area, PARS, Governor Grocery, South Dakota Discovery Center and Stanley County Schools have received a total of $148,750 in grant funding to pay for a variety of expenses and improvements.
The money came from the BankWest and Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines Member Impact Fund.
“Access to consistent, nutritious food is foundational to a child’s success,” said Hope Armstrong, co-founder of Governor Grocery. “This funding ensures hundreds of local students will have reliable meals outside the school day, easing food insecurity for families and helping kids return to school ready to learn.”
BankWest applied for and received matching grant funds for the following projects:
- Boys & Girls Club of the Capital Area ($35,000) – Funds will support the installation of a new surveillance and access-control system at the Stanley County GOLD site in Fort Pierre, enhancing safety and security for students, staff, and volunteers.
BankWest’s Jason Smith and FHLB James Lee present a check to B&GC CEO Steve Steele.
Courtesy photo. - PARS ($35,000) – Grant funds will fully support one semester of food for PARS’ BackPack Program, which provides weekly meal kits to 350–400 elementary students in Pierre and Fort Pierre, ensuring consistent access to nutritious food outside of school.
BankWest’s Regional President Andy Hubbart and FHLB Relationship Manager James Lee present a check to PARS Executive Director Corwin Jones.
Courtesy photo. - Governor Grocery ($35,000) – Funding will advance plans to establish a climate‑controlled, on‑site food pantry for Pierre area middle and high school students. The project will expand beyond the current grab‑and‑go model to better serve the approximately 160 students in grades 6–12 who rely on Governor Grocery.
BankWest’s Chief Operations Officer Bob Burke and Chairman & CEO Charles H. Burke III present a check to Governor Grocery Co-Founder Hope Armstrong.
Courtesy photo. - South Dakota Discovery Center ($35,000) – Funds will support expansion of the Discovery Center’s outdoor Living Lab in Pierre—a community learning space that engages youth and families in hands‑on science and nature exploration. The project includes native and pollinator plantings, a water feature, simple scientific equipment, and a connection to an indoor observation beehive for year‑round learning.
BankWest’s Chief Operations Officer Bob Burke and Chairman & CEO Charles H. Burke III present a check to SD Discovery Center Executive Director Anne Lewis and Exhibit Hall Manager Allison Graviett-Pfaff.
Courtesy photo. - Buff Closet at Stanley County Schools ($8,750) – Grant funds will provide shelving and cupboards for the Buff Closet and help maintain vital supplies, including food, hygiene products, and clothing items, supporting all 430 students across the district.
BankWest’s Regional President Andy Hubbart and FHLB Relationship Manager James Lee present a check to Stanley County School’s Counselor Nichole Hahn.
Courtesy photo.
Recipient organizations were selected based on the needs for grant funding to support capacity-building or working capital necessary to strengthen their ability to serve affordable housing or community development needs including job training, affordable housing, financial literacy, food banks and youth programs.
FHLB Des Moines provides funding solutions to more than 1,200 members to support mortgage lending, economic development and affordable housing in the communities they serve. The Member Impact Fund provides FHLB Des Moines members matching grant donations to strengthen the ability of not-for-profits or government entities to support the needs of their communities.
Since its launch in 2023, the Member Impact Fund has provided more than $83 million in grants from FHLB Des Moines, generating over $113 million in combined support for affordable housing and community development. Notably, every eligible application submitted to the program has received funding—reflecting the organization’s strong commitment to partnership and impact.
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