Final 2025 Food Giveaway Set for Oct. 8 in Milbank

The fifth and final  food giveaway of 2025, sponsored by the Grant County Christian Service Council and Feeding South Dakota, will be held on Wednesday, October 8, from 4-5 p.m. The event will again be held in the Living Word Church parking lot on the north end of Milbank on Hwy.15. This event is ONLY for South Dakota residents, and you must meet the income guidelines that have been established by the federal government. These guidelines are included with this article, will be available at the ICAP office in Milbank, will be posted at the event, and can also be viewed online at: https://www.feedingsohttps://l.gourl.es/l/6d792b02dbbc28db29d2e51c14d98e4db629fad1?u=9783024&notrack=1uthdakota.org/general-uploads/TEFAP-Self-declaration-Form_3-26-2025-version.pdf.

According to Brenda Maass, coordinator of the event, guests will not be asked to provide proof of income verification at the event, but rather will self report and will verify they meet the income guidelines. Upon entrance the day of the event, households receiving food will be required to provide family information including name, address, number in the household, and their signature, verifying the information is correct. This information is necessary as it will then be reported to Feeding South Dakota and TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) to keep a record of participation in the program. 

Because participants must meet income guidelines, this also affects their ability to pick up food for another family.  As in the past, participants are able to pick up food for themselves and one other qualifying family.  However, in assisting another family, participants need to become the other family’s proxy and fill out and sign a proxy form with the family receiving the food. Proxy forms are available at the ICAP office, or  print them at: https:/https://l.gourl.es/l/c639da04c5260140a031a8571cdf9dd8330088a8?u=9783024&notrack=1/www.feedingsouthdakota.org/general-uploads/TEFAP-Proxy_3-26-2025-version.pdf.

The proxy forms, as well as the income guidelines, are also provided in Spanish on the Feeding South Dakota website. The ONLY way to pick up food for another family is with a completed and signed proxy form brought the day of the giveaway.  Any family receiving food must be residents of South Dakota AND meet the established income guidelines.   

As a reminder, because of the close proximity to Highway 15, recipients are asked to arrive NO EARLIER than 2:30 p.m., as volunteers are not available to park vehicles and register guests until that time. Let’s not create traffic hazards on the highway!  Please do not park in the church parking lot until the volunteers are there at 2:30 p.m. to register and give parking directions.  As in the past, after recipients are parked, they will be asked to simply open their trunks or back liftgates to help expedite the distribution process once the giveaway starts at 4 p.m.  After recipients are parked, volunteers will also register guests and verify family information.  

For the safety of the volunteers and speed of the distribution, recipients are asked to get a space ready for the workers to place the food in the vehicle. The church’s restrooms will be open for everyone’s convenience.Interested in volunteering for this event?  Need more information about receiving food? Please feel free to text Brenda Maass, the program coordinator, at 605.880.7176 or email her at brendajmaass@gmail.com.