In late November, within a two-hour period, the Rock County Food Shelf made a significant impact. They sent 63 families home with the groceries needed to prepare meals. The next day, co-director Mary Gehrke embarked on a journey from Luverne, Minnesota, to Sioux Falls. Her mission was to replenish the shelves with the first monthly donation of food from the Midwest Food Bank. Surprisingly, it cost her food shelf only the gas for the trip. The food itself was entirely free, which initially made Gehrke skeptical. She thought, "This is too good to be true. What's the catch?" But she decided to see what would happen.

Beneficiaries of the First Shipment

The Rock County Food Shelf wasn't the only one to benefit from this shipment. Other nonprofits like Messiah New Hope Lutheran Church, the University of Sioux Falls, St. Katharine Drexel Parish, and Faith Temple Church in Sioux Falls, as well as food pantries in Baltic, Dell Rapids, and Marty, also received a share. This shows the wide reach and positive influence of the Midwest Food Bank.

Expansion and Location

The Midwest Food Bank, based in Illinois, has expanded to Sioux Falls and will serve the tri-state area of South Dakota, Minnesota, and Iowa. Kristin Johnson, an advisory board member and executive director of Fair Market, was familiar with the organization. She reached out to them, and they showed interest in expanding. Sioux Falls is an ideal location as it lies at the intersection of two interstates. Another connection was that its founder is related to the church Johnson attends. With her passion for feeding the hungry, she quickly agreed to join the local board.

Annual Impact and Expansion in 2023

According to the Midwest Food Bank's 2023 annual report, its program had a remarkable $482 million impact in free food distributed. It served 1.3 million people through 2,400 distribution partners, all nonprofit agencies. In 2023 alone, it expanded its reach with 300 new nonprofit partners and two new remote distribution centers. It secured new partnerships and nurtured existing agreements with food donors, increasing the variety and supply for the tri-state region. With the expansion to Sioux Falls, the area now has a food program that crosses state lines.

Benefits for Food Shelves and Pantries

Receiving free food distributions monthly allows food shelves and pantries to make the most of their cash. They can use the funds to purchase other goods. Donations of canned goods are helpful, but the need to buy essential items is constant. Gehrke's food shelf has seen an increase in grocery bills. However, they receive wonderful support in donated goods. In January, it may seem like there will never be a shortage of food, but it can change quickly.

Volunteer Work and Unclaimed Items

The Midwest Food Bank truck arrived at a Fair Market warehouse as Johnson had the space. Volunteers like Linda Duba helped unload and load the goods. Duba, a retiring state legislator from District 15, is aware of the prevalence of food insecurity in the area. There are many working poor, children, and adults in need. The food giveaways on Fridays and Feeding South Dakota are important, but this new program will reach even more people. Not a single item went unclaimed, and volunteers from the Faith Temple food giveaways took what was left. The Banquet and Feeding South Dakota can also benefit from the nonperishable items.

Future Expansion Plans

Johnson hopes to expand to 20 food pantries in the initial stages and eventually include 24 to 30 food shelves. To qualify, agencies must be 501(c)(3) organizations, give away food instead of selling it, serve at least 40 families, and be able to pick up the monthly shipment. The next MFB truck is expected to arrive a week before Christmas, which is a great time for expansion. As one customer said, it's a challenging time with heating, feeding, and gifts taking up resources. But the need is great.