South Dakota Wing Helping with Food Mission After Winter Storm

The South Dakota Wing is assisting Feeding South Dakota and other agencies in their efforts to feed residents snowed in for over a week because of winter storms. 

Three members of the Pierre Composite Squadron pitched in at Feeding South Dakota's local warehouse this week.

“(It was) awesome!" said Cadet Airman Stuart Smith, who was accompanied by Cadets Aurora Corrales and Ethan Smith. "We got almost a full pallet of potatoes bagged."

The wing anticipates assisting at the agency's Rapid City warehouse Thursday and Friday and the Sioux Falls warehouse next week.

“Our ability to continue to operate our hunger relief programs while also meeting the emergency food requests in central South Dakota relies on volunteer support,” said Lori Dykstra, Feeding South Dakota CEO. “Having Civil Air Patrol step up and help us with these efforts has been a great display of how organizations can come together to support our state.”

 "This humanitarian effort is one of the reasons Civil Air Patrol exists," said Lt. Col. Todd Epp, the wing’s incident commander for the mission. "We are glad we can assist Feeding South Dakota in their important efforts in providing food security for our fellow citizens on the snowbound Native American tribal lands and elsewhere."

 If called on, the wing may also transport food as directed by FSD as well as pack food and other supplies. In addition to responses by squadrons inS ioux Falls, Tea, and Rapid City along with Pierre, other members across the state are assisting in administrative roles with the mission.