Coronavirus Pandemic Prompts Emergency Food Give Away in Milbank

Published by admin on Tue, 03/31/2020 - 4:35pm

Coronavirus Pandemic Prompts

Emergency Food Give Away in Milbank

The Grant County Christian Service Council is coordinating efforts with Feeding South Dakota to provide an emergency good giveaway in Milbank on Thursday, April 2, from 2 to 3 p.m. in the main Milbank High School parking lot.

The additional giveaway is being coordinated because of the concerns of additional need created by the COVID-19 pandemic. This giveaway will be in addition to the giveaway event that is planned for May 6. Anyone who feels they are in need is welcome to receive a box, as there are no income requirements.

This giveaway will be different from those held in the past as the food will already be boxed by volunteers at Feeding South Dakota. Those who wish to pick up a box for their family, will enter the high school parking lot from E. 7th Avenue and will receive further traffic flow directions from there.

In order to minimize contact and comply with CDC guidelines, recipients are asked to open their trunks or back liftgates of their SUVs once they are in line and are close to the Feeding South Dakota truck. As the driver pulls up to the truck, a volunteer will place the box in the vehicle and close the door. The driver will continue to the exit and leave the parking lot.

For those driving a pickup without a bed cover, the box will be placed in the back. If the pickup box is covered and has a back liftgate that needs to be opened, the driver is asked to have that open and ready. The volunteer will close it before the vehicle exits.

For those who need the box to be placed in the back seat of their vehicle, in order to minimize contact, the driver will need to continue through the line to a row of tables south of the truck and will be responsible for picking up a box themself.

Everyone is asked to have a space ready for the box in their vehicle so the traffic flow will not be disrupted by needing additional time to make room for the box.

There will be a limit of one box per family and no more than two boxes per vehicle. There will be no exceptions. Anyone needing to pick up for more than themselves and one other family, they are more than welcome to do that, however, they will need to pick up two boxes, exit the parking lot, and then get back into the back of the line again to receive another box.

Because of the daily school lunch pick-up being held in the high school parking lot over the noon hour, there will be no parking allowed in the main parking lot of the high school prior to the giveaway. Individuals will be able to park in the east lot of the high school, but be aware of the fact that if anyone chooses to arrive early and park in that lot, it may take more time for them to get into line than if they plan to arrive at 2 p.m.

The truck can only stay from 2 to 3 p.m. on Thursday, so anyone unable to attend the giveaway at that time should make arrangements for someone else to pick up a box for them.

As with previous giveaways, anyone who is physically unable to attend can call the ICAP office at 432-6571 prior to Thursday to make arrangements to have a box delivered. Also, even though the courthouse is currently locked to help slow the spread of COVID-19, individuals can call Val at 432-6571 to arrange a pickup of a box of food from the food pantry.

Anyone in need of resources other than food, the Christian Service Council is always available to assist. Those needing help can contact Val and she will work with the CSC to obtain the resources you need.

“If you are in a position to help donate funds to the Christian Service Council, we always welcome donations, and especially at this time of greater need,” said Brenda Maass, a member of the council. “The majority of our funding comes from donations from our local Thrift Store, but donations from churches, businesses and generous individuals ensure that we are able to continue to provide the resources we need to serve those less fortunate in our community.” Checks can be mailed to: Grant County Christian Service Council, 210 E. 5th Ave., Milbank, SD 57252.