Studying for a test, being attentive in class and crafting the perfect essay all require strength, resilience and perseverance. Yet, the ability to work hard in school and other endeavors is a privilege. According to Sioux Falls Thrive, “17% of children in Minnehaha County are food insecure.” For these students the ability to study, complete homework and be attentive in class is made more difficult, in turn, requiring an entirely different type of strength to accomplish.

The Sioux Falls School District has been working to combat food insecurity. For instance, all Sioux Falls public schools have a backpack program, which allows students to bring home several snack-type foods every Friday for the weekend and have a consistent food supply. It is placed in a plastic bag and any student can sign up by talking to their school counselor, or Michelle Sharpe, the school social worker.
“It’s supposed to kind of bridge the gap for the next meal that they will get for when they are not at school… These are examples of the things that go home for a weekend, a small box of cornflakes, granola bar, a shelf milk (so it doesn’t have to be refrigerated), apple sauce, fruit snacks, spaghetti with the pop open (so if you don’t have a can opener you can still use it), microwavable mac n’ cheese, some cheddar crackers and some diced fruit,” said Becky Thomas, the school counselor in charge of the backpack and food pantry programs at LHS.
In addition to the backpack program, LHS has installed a food pantry for the third year in room E108A. This allows students to access foods at any time that can be brought home for both themselves and their families. Unlike the snack-type foods in the backpack program, the food pantry has more substantial foods that can be cooked for meals.
“Kids can access it any time, if they want to come to the counseling office or the social worker, we let them in there and they can take whatever they want. Parents are welcome to take things, the students are welcome to take this for their families to make,” said Thomas.
The food pantry and backpack programs are supplied by Feeding South Dakota. Students must fill out an anonymous sheet to note how much they took to provide Feeding South Dakota with the correct inventory amount.
“Feeding South Dakota partners with the schools for that opportunity. Each month I have to go through and total up all of the students who came through the pantry, just because that’s our accountability, I send those numbers into Feeding South Dakota, and that’s how everything is held accountable. We get 200 pounds every week. It’s a significant amount of food that’s donated,” said Thomas.
With this immense amount of food donated, it requires a lot of effort to organize and move it to the food pantry. Right now, students in the ROTC are helping to organize it, but all students are eligible and welcome to assist in organizing it. Students can also help by donating food through Student Council drives, Feeding South Dakota, other school fundraisers or donating directly to the food pantry.
“If you’re interested in helping to organize the pantry, reach out to Michelle Sharpe, the school social worker [in room A302, across from the main office], or the counselors or me. It’s a big task because 200 pounds of food gets dropped off every week and then it has to be organized in there,” said Thomas. “Items that go very quickly include any kind of pasta, pasta sauces, easy-to-eat snack items and cereals.”
The food pantry at LHS is leveling the unequal playing field food insecurity creates for students. It allows all students and families the right to have consistent access to food, fueling their academic success.
“It’s a definite positive impact, the families are enjoying the extra connection to Feeding South Dakota, and they really appreciate our partnership,” said Thomas.
Ultimately, as knowledge of the food pantry continues to grow, so will its positive impact on the student body at LHS, as more students will have access to the food it provides them with.
“We’ve already increased our backpack number; I mean each year it just keeps gaining because more and more students find out about it. As the word gets out and as it becomes more accessible and people become more comfortable to take it, I feel it will continue to grow,” said Thomas.