Food pantry helps serve those in need

By: 
Gray Hughes

Inside the Little White Church in Hill City sits a blessing for many families: the Hill City Food Pantry.

The pantry is run not just by the Little White Church but also the Lighthouse Assembly of God, Community Lutheran Church and St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church.

“Sixty percent of the items here are from Feeding South Dakota,” said Dale Householder, who helps run the food pantry.

The food pantry has wholesale items available for families. Meat products are available, too, for 18 cents a pound.

A family can come to the food pantry twice a month and take two bags of food, and no one will be turned away. Those using the food pantry must fill out a card indicating they were there.

“It’s like Sam’s Club,” Householder said. “Not everything is available all of the time. We greatly appreciate all food donations.”

Each month, one of the four churches that helps run the food pantry is in charge.

Cub Scout Pack 10 in Hill City stocked the pantry full of food during its Scouting for Food drive, collecting several hundred pounds of food.

Drive such as the Scouts’ helps the food pantry have a variety of food, Householder said.

And, while food donations are gladly accepted, what benefits the food pantry more, Householder said, is monetary donations. The food pantry, Householder said, operates on $500 to $550 per month, and 100 percent of the money donated goes to food.

November through early January makes up the busiest time for the food pantry, Householder said, as more people tend to be in a giving mood during the holiday season.

However, support is needed year-round.

“We’re not trying to push religion on anyone,” Householder said. “We are here to serve.”

The food pantry is open from 9-11 a.m. on Mondays and Fridays. Monetary donations can be made through the Little White Church’s website.

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