South Dakota Mines Students to Come Together and Hold 14th Annual Martin Luther King Day Food Drive

January 12, 2024
South Dakota Mines Students to Come Together and Hold 14th Annual Martin Luther King Day Food Drive
For the 14th year, South Dakota Mines students will come together to hold the annual Martin Luther King Day Food Drive at local grocery stores. Last year, students collected over 2,600 lbs. of food.

For the 14th year, student groups from South Dakota Mines will serve as volunteers on the annual Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, collecting food and cash donations at local grocery stores. The food drive benefits Feeding South Dakota and the university's student food pantry.

The 14th annual food drive will be from 3-6 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 15. Student volunteers will be at the following locations in Rapid City and Box Elder: Timmons Neighborhood Market in Rapid City and Box Elder, both Safeway locations, both Walmart locations and both Family Fare locations.

"For 14 years now, South Dakota Mines has been honored to commend the memory of Martin Luther King Jr. with a food drive organized and implemented by our students,” said South Dakota Mines Dean of Students Joe Dlugos, Ph.D. “MLK himself said that 'Everyone can be great... because anybody can serve.' A large portion of our students are doing just that on Jan. 15. Instead of simply kicking their feet up and taking the day off from their studies, they are serving in the community and setting an example for everyone they encounter. One of the secondary goals of this special event is that the Black Hills community be able to recognize South Dakota Mines as not only a reputable institution for earning a degree in science and engineering, but also a place that is developing tomorrow's leaders who have a passion for service and uplifting the general public."

  The annual food drive honors Dr. King's legacy and is an opportunity for Rapid City residents to renew their vows of citizenship through service to others. Student organizations participating include women's basketball, Beta Delta Mu, Lambda Chi Alpha, Delta Sigma Phi, Hardrocker Cheer, Triangle, National Society of Black Engineers and Dino and Dragons. Student groups brought in more than 2,600 pounds of food and over $750 during the 2023 drive.

To help support students' efforts, South Dakota Mines is partnering with Black Hills Federal Credit Union again. BHFCU is helping fundraise and collect canned goods and other non-perishables as part of the food drive. Collection bins are located at the five Rapid City BHFCU Member Service Centers and on the South Dakota Mines campus. Drop-off locations on the Mines Campus include the physics and math departments and Student Engagement in the Surbeck Center.

Checks can be made out to Feeding South Dakota. Cash donations will be used to purchase food for the Mines student food pantry and donated to Feeding South Dakota.