Feeding South Dakota will temporarily close its two major food pantries in Sioux Falls and Rapid City to the public.
Jennifer Stensaas is a spokesperson for Feeding South Dakota. She says the move will give them time to reorganize their facilities and prepare for increased demand.
“Our territory is the entire state of South Dakota,” Stensaas says. “So, there’s so much more going out in all the other counties that we need to put some more focus on to ensure we’re getting enough food to every county in the state. Not just Minnehaha, Lincoln and Pennington.”
Stensaas says beginning next week, Feeding South Dakota will distribute food differently in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. The pantries currently use what’s called a guest choice model. Stensaas says instead of letting people select their own items, small volunteer groups will pack emergency food boxes.
“Boxes of food aren’t necessarily ideal, but it’s just a more effective way of making sure everyone has some food," Stensaas says. "Then, what it allows us to focus on all 66 counties instead of just Sioux Falls and Rapid City.”
Stensaas says the pantries will remain closed until it is safe to re-open them again. Feeding South Dakota will distribute those emergency food boxes drive-thru style in the parking lots of several locations starting Monday.
