Kiwanis Food Drive set for this weekend, helps put food on the table

STURGIS, SD – The annual Kiwanis Food Drive collects thousands of pounds of food each year that helps feed families in Meade County as well as surrounding areas.  Among the organizers of this year’s drive on Sat., Nov. 6. Rich Deaver says that no one who needs food is turned away.

“Our area includes all of Meade County,” says Deaver. “We also serve Whitewood, Black Hawk and Piedmont. It’s a large area.”  He adds. “We don’t turn anyone away who needs food.”

Half day drop off sites – from 9am to 12 Noon – for food or cash donations are the Grocery Mart parking lot, the Sturgis Harley Davidson parking lot, and on Ball Park Road, across from the Fire Hall.  Day-long drop-off is available at the Sturgis Food Pantry, 801 6^th street from  9 AM to 3 PM. on Saturday.

“We try to offer nutritious food, focusing more on health items.   It’s what people really need and can’t afford.”

For Deaver and others, the rewards of volunteering at the Kiwanis Food Pantry are often behind the scenes.

“Every Christmas we get a check in the mail from a person who was stranded in Sturgis about 10 years ago,” shares Deaver.  “It was a difficult time for this individual who had nothing.  We and others in the community helped with food and clothing.  Now, a check arrives every year – as much as $2,000 – with a thank you always included from the person who has said they could not have made it through without the help of the food pantry and other organizations in Sturgis.”

Suggested food items the pantry can always use include: Beef stew, tuna, canned chicken, spam, canned vegetables, macaroni and cheese, any pasta noodles, pasta sauces, jelly, peanut butter, ketchup, mustard, canned tomatoes, tomato sauce, hamburger helper, butter, cake/brownie mix, vegetable oil, ramen noodles, canned fruit, and breakfast cereal.

Monetary donations may also be mailed to: Sturgis Kiwanis Food Pantry, PO Box 4136, Sturgis, SD 57785.

“The vast majority of food we give away comes from donations and drives such as this,” says Dever. “ I’ve always said Sturgis is a very, very generous community.”