Pierre - Six weeks ago, government officials told individuals living in Pierre and Fort Pierre that the gates of the Oahe Dam would gradually be opened and flooding would occur along the shores of the Missouri River. The two communities banded together to help thwart the incoming waters. Neighbors helped neighbors. Family helped family. Strangers helped strangers. Hundreds of volunteers from surrounding communities filled sandbags, fed workers, and comforted those who had damaged property. One of Pierre’s local contractors, Morris Inc., built levees with a sense of urgency. The South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Army National Guard also provided assistance. Feeding South Dakota in Pierre was a great resource for the entire community. Because of its affiliation with Feeding America, the Food Bank was able to bring in semi loads of snacks and water to supply those helping with the flood relief efforts. Currently, the levees are holding; however, the flood waters are not receding. The water damage to hundreds of homes and businesses is obvious. The high levels in the underground water table are still causing problems in the basements of homes. The financial toll on residents and businesses is on-going and is yet to be determined. The communities will rebuild, but it will take time. The water has taken a tremendous toll on the natural landscape of our lands. Trees, plants, and flowers will not be able to survive under water for months at a time. Despite the numerous challenges the flood has caused, community spirit is strong and positive. Bernie Jassman, Central Operations Manager Feeding South Dakota 100 Cars for Good In our last newsletter we reported to you that Feeding South Dakota applied to be a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program. Toyota had announced that it was awarding 100 vehicles to 100 deserving non-profits over the course of 100 days starting May 9th and concluding on August 16th. This program was Facebook driven and all winners were determined by public vote on Facebook only. Feeding South Dakota was chosen as a finalist with a voting date set for June 28, 2011. As the days came closer, we contacted the media, friends and family to help us out and cast a vote in our favor. Well, it worked! We are proud to announce that we won a Toyota Highlander Hybrid! We were up against 4 other wonderful and very deserving charities, but at day’s end, Feeding South Dakota was in the lead. We are so grateful for those who support us and our mission. This vehicle will be well used in South Dakota as we continue to fight hunger in our state! We thank Toyota and their 100 Cars for Good Program for recognizing Feeding South Dakota and all of the other 499 finalist charities because at the end of the day, it’s not really about the car, it’s about raising awareness for our causes! Flood Relief Efforts on the Banks of the Missouri River www.feedingsouthdakota.org SIOUX FALLS - 605-335-0364 3511 North First Avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57104 RAPID CITY - 605.348.2689 814 North Maple Avenue Rapid City, SD 57701 PIERRE - 605.494.3663 2900 Airport Road Pierre, SD 57501 Fall 2011
Transcript
Pierre - Six weeks ago, government officials told individuals living in Pierre and Fort Pierre that the gates of the Oahe Dam would gradually be opened and flooding would occur along the shores of the Missouri River. The two communities banded together to help thwart the incoming waters. Neighbors helped neighbors. Family helped family. Strangers helped strangers. Hundreds of volunteers from surrounding communities filled sandbags, fed workers, and comforted those who had damaged property. One of Pierre’s local contractors, Morris Inc., built levees with a sense of urgency. The South Dakota Highway Patrol and the Army National Guard also provided assistance.
Feeding South Dakota in Pierre was a great resource for the entire community. Because of its affiliation with Feeding America, the Food Bank was able to bring in semi loads of snacks and water to supply those helping with the flood relief efforts.
Currently, the levees are holding; however, the flood waters are not receding. The water damage to hundreds of homes and businesses is obvious. The high levels in the underground water table are still causing problems in the basements of homes. The financial toll on residents and businesses is on-going and is yet to be determined.
The communities will rebuild, but it will take time. The water has taken a tremendous toll on the natural landscape of our lands. Trees, plants, and flowers will not be able to survive under water for months at a time. Despite the numerous challenges the flood has caused, community spirit is strong and positive.
Bernie Jassman, Central Operations ManagerFeeding South Dakota
100 Cars for GoodIn our last newsletter we reported to you that Feeding South Dakota applied to be a finalist in Toyota’s 100 Cars for Good Program. Toyota had announced that it was awarding 100 vehicles to 100 deserving non-profits over the course of 100 days starting May 9th and concluding on August 16th. This program was Facebook driven and all winners were determined by public vote on Facebook only.
Feeding South Dakota was chosen as a finalist with a voting date set for June 28, 2011. As the days came closer, we
contacted the media, friends and family to help us out and cast a vote in our favor. Well, it worked! We are proud to announce that we won a Toyota Highlander Hybrid!
We were up against 4 other wonderful and very deserving charities, but at day’s end, Feeding South Dakota was in the lead. We are so grateful for those who support us and our mission.
This vehicle will be well used in South Dakota as we continue to fight hunger in our state! We thank Toyota and their 100 Cars for Good Program for recognizing Feeding South Dakota and all of the other 499 finalist charities because at the end of the day, it’s not really about the car, it’s about raising awareness for our causes!
Flood Relief Efforts on the Banks of the Missouri River
www.feedingsouthdakota.org
Sioux FallS - 605-335-0364 3511 North First avenue Sioux Falls, SD 57104
RapiD City - 605.348.2689 814 North Maple avenue Rapid City, SD 57701
pieRRe - 605.494.3663 2900 airport Road pierre, SD 57501
Ron Houston, First Premier Bank/Premier Bank CardBob Miller, Bank WestJohn Hinrichs, State of South DakotaRebekah Cradduck, SD Association of Healthcare OrganizationsButch Abernathie, Health Concepts, Urgent CareDick Birath, First Premier Bank/Premier Bank CardConnie Halverson, Delta Dental of South DakotaTed Pins, Retired BusinessmanCrissy Sieber, Wells FargoRay Thompson, Thompson Financial ServicesMatt Gassen, Executive Director, Feeding South Dakota
Rapid City StaffMonica Leitheiser, Site ManagerTony Walters, Warehouse ManagerBrad Ham, Delivery DriverLarry Welke, Warehouse StaffRichard Sibal, Warehouse StaffLeigh Gibson, Pantry StaffMargaret Aldren, Pantry Staff
Pierre StaffBernie Jassmann, Site ManagerRuss Hofeldt, Warehouse ManagerCrayton Bouchie, Delivery Driver
Have you ever stopped to think about what the face of hunger looks like in your community, or South Dakota for that matter? I think we could all agree that it looks different than those graphic pictures we see of starving children and adults in a third world country. But I also think we could agree that the face of hunger in our state is not as easily identifiable as those pictures either. So then what does it really look like? My answer to that question would be that it really has no face and that even though in our mind’s eye we may have conjured up an image of the face of hunger, I would question its accuracy.
One of the many things that I have learned in my 12 years in this work is that most of the time, those in need of food assistance don’t look any different than anyone else. As I have spent time observing and helping at one of our pantries or at an agency’s food distribution, I have reached a conclusion: there are a lot of average folks who are in need of some help. The reasons for that are as varied as one’s imagination. The hungry person might wear worn clothes and look disheveled, but then again, the individual might also be dressed properly and drive a nice car. How can that be, you might ask? Well it could be the result of someone having been laid off from his job or experiencing a reduction in work hours. On the other hand, it may be the result of a sudden financial crisis such as a serious illness or the unexpected death of the family’s breadwinner.
What I have learned is that if one harbors stereotypical views or is judgmental of those seeking assistance, he will never get a realistic vision of the face of hunger. For you see, that face might be a co-worker that you interact with every day, it could be the elderly couple you sit next to in church, maybe the little boy or girl you see at a play ground, or it could even be someone in your neighborhood. Hunger can be the result of situations both beyond and within one’s control. Even when it is because of their own actions, all too often there are innocent victims, like children who suffer because of poor decisions. I believe that the harder one tries to place a specific face on hunger, the farther he gets from its reality. For if I have learned nothing else, I know that to see the face of hunger we only need to look in a mirror. What we will see is not all that different than the true face of hunger in our state. There are so many people who teeter or have fallen off the edge because they were only one or two paychecks away from a crisis. When catastrophe strikes, individuals are forced to use their resources to pay what bills they can and have little left to provide for their family.
At Feeding South Dakota our goal is to not worry so much what the face of hunger looks like, but rather to do all we can to provide the individuals with the food they need to lead healthy and productive lives. For us to do that, we are continually in need of both food and financial donations to keep pace with the ongoing demand for food assistance. Your past and future support is so vitally important to the work that we do, and with your help we will continue striving to meet the hunger needs of South Dakotans.
Matt GassenExecutive Director
Director’s Report
Upcoming EventsFood Bank BreakdownFeeding South Dakota solicits food both locally and nationally through our affiliation with Feeding America. Here is a break down of where our revenue comes from and how it is used.
J & L Harley Davidson “Your Butt is Ours” (Sioux Falls) Apr 28th – Sept 9th; J & L will donate $5 for every person that rides the Harley simulator, takes a real Harley out for a test drive or joins a motorcycle instruction class; http://www.jl-harley.com/yourbuttisours
Champion Window (Sioux Falls) – Jun 1 – Aug 31st; Champion will donate 50 pounds of food for each appointment run or 100 pounds of food with each Champion project ordered; http://closethewindowonhunger.com/
Jam Against Hunger (Sioux Falls) – Aug 28th; The 11th annual “Jam Against Hunger” will kick off Sunday, August 28th from 1:00pm until 5:00pm at the Terrace Park band shell. Bands this year are Juke Box Zeroes, Driven, ZZ3, and a special appearance by DK Koller. The annual event is a free show for the public to raise non-perishable food items and cash for Feeding South Dakota. Last year’s show raised over 15 tons of food. People can bring blankets, coolers, lawn chairs, kids, and sunscreen. Food will be available for purchase by Sub Hub.
Sioux Empire Fitness (Sioux Falls) - Sioux Empire Fitness club is organizing a Fall Fund Raiser for Feeding South Dakota. Teams will be formed, fund raising and weight
loss goals will be set and everyone will be weighed in on September 1st, 2011. The final weigh in will be November 1st with the top three, “Biggest Losers”, winning great prizes. Anyone interested can contact Travis Ackerman at Sioux Empire Fitness in Sioux Falls. More details to follow so stay tuned!
Walmart / Pepsico Food Drive (Statewide) – Sept 17th & 18th; 2nd Annual to include all 12 stores in South Dakota; Over 17,000 pounds of food was raised last year. You can either bring food from home to donate, or purchase food at the store and drop it in the bins before you leave!
Boy Scout Food Drive (Sioux Falls) – Oct 22nd
September is Hunger Action Month! (Nationwide)
Backpack Program
(Sioux Falls) Even though school was out for the summer, Feeding South Dakota continued to offer the BackPack Program. In Sioux Falls, children ages 18 and under could go to eight distribution sites to pick up backpacks. The bags, available on Friday afternoon, contained the same items used during the school year; they were rotated out on a five-week basis. Each week, about 550-600 children picked up backpacks at schools or youth centers. The Sioux Falls School District offered free lunch Monday-Friday at six locations, and Feeding South Dakota had volunteers at those sites and two others on Friday to hand out the food bags to children. There were no qualifications to receive a pack, but the child had to be present to take one home. Based on feedback we received on Friday afternoons, some of the most popular items were the mixed fruit cups, juice boxes, macaroni and cheese, animal crackers, and beef jerky.
(Rapid City) This is the second year for the Summer BackPack Program in Rapid City. This summer, we are able to provide 800 BackPacks of food per week to 11 different sites. These sites are onsite feeding programs which provide food for children Monday-Friday. And just like The BackPack Program, the Summer BackPack Program fills the hunger gap that exists during those long weekends. Feedback from organizations receiving the program deemed it a huge success. “Children are constantly reminding the staff all week not to forget to give them their weekend food bag,” one site has said. Feeding South Dakota in Rapid City will continue the Summer BackPack Program next summer to fight against childhood hunger during the summer months as well as during the school year.
Since Feeding South Dakota’s BackPack Program (BPP) began operating in 2007 in Sioux Falls, Clair Halverson has been the most dedicated volunteer. For the past five years, Halverson has given eight hours each Tuesday (or Wednesday) during the school year to help organize and pack the bags. He has helped prepare truck routes, update food pick lists, and train volunteers during the 1,505 hours he has dedicated
to the program. In addition to the actual recorded hours, Halverson spends countless hours at home preparing for the next week’s distribution.
During the actual packing, Halverson arranges the pallets and labels the totes to ensure that students receive the food packages on Friday afternoons. Halverson is an exemplary community member and should be recognized. He is incredibly humble and never seeks recognition for his work, but he is a role model for all of us at Feeding South Dakota. In addition to helping with the BPP, Halverson donates his time to the Furniture Mission, the VA Hospital, and his church, First Presbyterian. You might also find him rocking newborn babies at Sanford Hospital. Halverson will tell you he retired in 2003, but since that time, he has become a full-time volunteer at various agencies across the Sioux Empire.
We honor Halverson for the generous contributions he makes every week!
Volunteer Spotlight
Clair Halverson
Insuring the FutureMany of us have life insurance policies that were purchased years ago for a specific reason. Maybe you had young children and needed to provide for them in case anything happened to you. Or perhaps it was a spouse who stayed home to care for the children.
As with all important documents, you should review your life insurance policies regularly to make sure that they are still serving their purpose, appropriate for your current situation, and with the right beneficiary named.
Perhaps you have a policy that is no longer needed. Your children are grown; you have settled in to retirement and no longer need that
safety net. Did you know you can give that policy to Feeding South Dakota?
If you name Feeding South Dakota as the owner and beneficiary of the policy, you can receive an income tax deduction and reduce the size of your taxable estate (for many, life insurance policies are “hidden” assets that are often forgotten until it is too late).
This is a great way to make a huge impact in our fight against hunger in South Dakota without affecting your current income or emergency savings. And it’s easy to do. Your insurance professional or the insurance company can get the appropriate forms for you!
