SD faces rising food insecurity: How you can help

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —More than 130,000 South Dakotans are food insecure, including 1 in 5 children. That’s according to the latest study from Feeding America.

Feeding South Dakota is seeing an increase in food insecurity across the state.

“We have 16,000 more individuals who are food insecure than there were last year,” Feeding SD CEO, Lori Dykstra, said.

That’s why Feeding South Dakota is taking part in Hunger Action Month.

“Hunger Action Month is a month where we can bring awareness to hunger. Whether it’s telling people what we do every day, you know, by wearing orange all throughout the month or sharing some of the resources that are in their community,” Dykstra said.

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“We know that hunger is still on the rise in our communities. And so we have to continue to talk about it. Get engaged with our communities; give them tools to help fight hunger,” Feeding SD Community Engagement Manager Jennifer Stensaas said.

To help motivate people to help out, Feeding South Dakota is making some volunteer shifts a little more festive with Delivering Through the Decades.

“It’s our first-ever volunteer-a-thon. And we’ve had great response to it. We’re going to be listening to good music throughout the decades, and having snacks, and then giving tours through our facilities,” Stensaas said.

Neighbors helping neighbors, any way they can.

“We’re hoping that everybody understands the reality of hunger, that it could be their neighbor, a family member, a coworker, and just really dig in to figure out what they can do. So whether it’s volunteering or donating food or money, there’s just something that everyone can do to help fight hunger,” Stensaas said.

Delivering Through the Decades is happening September 15 in Pierre, September 22 in Rapid City, and September 29 in Sioux Falls.

First Interstate Bank and the Federal Home Loan Bank of Des Moines are also matching donations made to Feeding South Dakota this month.

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