Project Status. Home

Earlier this year, Pierre Mayor Laurie Gill established an 11-person task force to establish a food bank in Pierre. The task force is chaired by former Pierre City Commissioner Larry Weiss and his wife Colleen. The task force also includes Community Food Banks of South Dakota Executive Director Matt Gassen of Sioux Falls and local Wal-Mart Store Manager Mitch Weiss. This is truly a collaborative effort and the task force will appreciate any input your community can provide.

To date, the task force has:

1. Meets bi-weekly until the facility is established.
2. Reviewed seven potential facilities in the Pierre-Fort Pierre area.
3. Narrowed the list of potential facilities to two.
4. Secured a refrigerated truck from a private corporation.
5. Secured ongoing operational funding through S.D. Community Food Banks/Feeding America
6. Begun investigating opportunities for grants, loans and donations.
7. Established a donations account at BankWest in Pierre.
8. Sent a solicitation letter to potential recipient communities.

An operational plan is being developed and will be in place before Christmas of this year. Once adequate funding is secured for the building, the food bank should be up and running within 30 days.