STURGIS, SD – The main objective of the Sturgis Kiwanis Club is to serve children. “And nothing does that more than food,” says member Richard Deaver who along with many others is preparing for the Annual Kiwanis Food Drive this Saturday in Sturgis. “Serving children – our main goal is to serve the needs of children,” says Deaver. “And of course nothing is more basic than food.”
Organizers hope to collect between 6,000 to 7,000 pounds of food during this year’s drive that differs somewhat from past years. “We’re not using the blue bags this year,” he shares “We’re asking people to use the bags they bring home from the grocery store and other places that we all have at home anyway.”
It takes a lot of volunteers to get food picked up and sorted, according to Deaver. But in as little as an hour and a half, with enough help, food can be picked up throughout the community. “We just need volunteers,” says Deaver.
“We don’t have a big enough club for the manpower needed to do what we have to do,” says Deaver. “So we desperately need help from others. It takes between 75 to 85 people to makes this run. But the more the better.” Volunteers are asked to be at the Catholic Church parking lot Sat., Nov. 2nd by 9:30 a.m. for route assignments. Pickup begins at 10:00 a.m.
The Food Pantry, that serves over 250 families each month, is available to anyone in the Meade County area. That includes the Piedmont, Summerset and Whitewood areas and rural communities within the county.
This year, both Lynn’s Dakota Mart and Grocery Mar in Sturgis are selling bags filled with Last Minute Food Pantry Items for $10 each. “The grocery stores are putting together a $10 last minute bag for people’s convenience,” shares Deaver. “These bags will contain items the food pantry needs. And there are also collection containers at the stores. So you can buy a food bag for the pantry and drop it off for delivery – all in one stop.”
Non-perishable foods and cash donations can also be dropped off at the Food Pantry located at 801 6th Street in Sturgis on the day of the food drive and also on Monday, Wednesday and Friday.
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