The Dakotas Conference Missional Impact Link has been focusing on food insecurity since Annual Conference 2021 this past June.  Almost $50,000 was collected through the Miracle Offering and that has been followed up with an additional collection from the Bishop’s Thanksgiving Offering.  We are awaiting results of the Thanksgiving Offering so we can have an even greater impact in the Dakotas helping our fellow brothers and sisters to feed themselves and their families.

People Against Childhood Hunger (PACH) is making an impact in Deuel County, South Dakota. Here, a group poses after packing backpacks for students.

The Missional Impact Link is excited to announce that $1,000 hunger grants have been awarded to 12 recipients so far.  Additionally, $26,000 has been shared with Feeding South Dakota and Great Plains Food Bank in ND.  Including the dollar-for-dollar match from each of the Dakota feeding organizations, almost $70,000 has been generated for food insecurity thanks to your generosity!  And more is coming in from the Thanksgiving Offering.

One of our grant recipients is the Clear Lake, South Dakota United Methodist Church Stewards Against Childhood Hunger (SACH) program.  SACH provides weekend bags of food for over 40 students in the Deuel School District. Becky Krause, of the Clear Lake United Methodist Church, had these words of gratitude to share.

“For students who have many issues to deal with every day, we wanted to make sure week-end hunger wasn't one of them. Our local group (Stewards Against Childhood Hunger - SACH) continues to be blessed many times over by the generosity of churches, businesses, individuals, and organizations who want to partner with us in making sure we have no student in the Deuel School District who has to worry about food on weekends.  With our four-day school week, our backpack bags need to include enough food for three days.  This makes our job a bit more challenging than other school districts, but God continues to supply our needs.  Again, we are blessed.”

A group of youths worked to pack backpacks for Stewards Against Childhood Hunger (SACH).

But there is still so much more we can do for our local communities.  Your local church can serve a community meal for your brethren, put together food boxes for distribution to the needy around town, or even consider inviting homeless and hungry directly into your own homes.  Radical hospitality has no boundaries!

We would love to hear more about how your local church has been working to lessen food insecurity within your area.  Your stories help us to see the impact your generosity has on families and children throughout the Dakotas… and when givers see and feel the impact of their giving, they just want to give more.  Help us promote all the good you are doing in your community!

Contact Al Roll, Mission Impact Development Coach for the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church.