SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – As the country faces a government shutdown, hunger relief leaders gathered today at the Downtown Sioux Falls Rotary Club to emphasize the importance of continuing to fight for those who are hungry, and they warned that if SNAP benefits are reduced, thousands of families will be impacted.
The panel discussed food insecurity and what future solutions look like amid expensive food prices and decreasing governmental support.
“Volunteer. Get involved with the people who are giving food to those who need it and hear their stories, even just once,” said Stacia Elsinger, who works as a dietician and struggled with hunger and affording food in college.
“Volunteer with Mara and help cook a meal. Bishop Dudley, serve a meal, Feeding South Dakota.”
About 75,000 South Dakotans relied on Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP benefits last year.
Food banks and religious organizations know they can’t realistically fill that gap, but they’re still determined to fight against hunger.
“Right now, my team, my leadership team, and I are getting together this afternoon to start planning for the demand, knowing that if the SNAP benefits are not renewed here in a couple of weeks, that we’re going to see a high influx of people utilizing the charitable food network. Mostly Feeding South Dakota and our partners,” said Lori Dykstra, CEO of Feeding South Dakota.
“We need to make sure we can mobilize as much food and move it out. But I’m going to say right now, we are not able to meet that entire gap at this moment.”
“Food is political, but it shouldn’t be,” said Elsinger.
“Eating is a basic human right, and we need to stop utilizing basic human rights like hunger to further progress different agendas. Everyone, regardless of who you are, deserves to eat.”
Organizations like Feeding South Dakota and Church on the Street are actively looking for volunteers and donations, as it takes everyone in the community to make sure no one suffers from hunger.
Copyright 2025 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
