Filling Up Local Food Shelves
by Breanna Fuss, Reporter
September 15, 2012 5:52 PM
The third annual ‘Fighting Hunger Together’ food drive is taking place all weekend.
Walmart and Feeding South Dakota have teamed up for the community to be able to donate non-perishable items to local food shelves.
With the holidays right around the corner local non-profit organizations need to stock up on food.
This weekend, one in particular is getting some much needed help, with the help of Walmart.
"All thirteen Walmarts in the state are participating in this food drive,” said Jim Dawson.
Jim Dawson with Feeding South Dakota said last year their annual food drive raised 27,000 pounds. This year they hope to do even better as even more and more members of the community are in need.
"Visitations have gone up between 60 and 65 percent in the last 3 to 4 years,” said Dawson.
Making food drives like the one over the weekend, invaluable.
Chad Thomas a manager at Walmart knows that and said this year they made it a littler easier for people to give.
"We put together items in a bag, pre-packaged, so customers can come in for $3 to $5 and pick a group of items. Customer can pay for it at the register and then put it in this box,” said Chad Thomas.
On Saturday alone, Walmart employees will make around 400 bags all filled with non-perishable food items.
And to give you a little extra push throughout the store you'll find certain items with special prices on them.
"Our toppers here were we're feeding hunger America, is really sending the message to our customers. But these are great really inexpensive items and it goes all the way down our grocery action alley that really makes sense that you can quick items you can grab to really help the cause,” said Thomas.
Sending a message that you can help those who may not know where their next meal may come from.
"One out of every eight persons is below the poverty level. So that figures out about 100,000 people we help annually,” Dawson said.
All the donations made in Sioux Falls will stay here and go to local food pantries in town. Donations end Sunday September 16th, at 5 p.m.
