South Dakota Mines Mobilizes Students to Serve on MLK Jr. Holiday
For the 11th year in a row, student groups from South Dakota Mines will step up to 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 Mines student food pantry.
The 11th annual food drive will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18. Student volunteers will be at the following locations in Rapid City: Timmons Neighborhood Market, Mt. Rushmore Road Safeway and both Walmart locations. Mines students will wear masks, practice social distancing, and undertake other COVID-19 safety measures during the event.
South Dakota Mines is pleased to partner once again with Black Hills Federal Credit Union. BHFCU is helping fundraise and collect canned goods and other non-perishables as part of the food drive. Collection bins are located at the 5 Rapid City BHFCU Member Service Centers and on the South Dakota Mines campus.
The annual food drive honors Dr. King's legacy and is an opportunity for Rapid City residents to renew their own personal vows of citizenship through service to others. “We see the annual MLK Jr. holiday as a day on rather than a day off,” says Patricia Mahon, Dean of Students and Vice President for Student Development at South Dakota Mines. “This is a day of service where we follow the example of Dr. King and mobilize to give back to our community.”
The 2020 food drive brought in more than 3,550 pounds of food and over $1,000. 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.
Student organizations participating include Lambda Chi Alpha, Hotrockers Dance Team, Society of Physics Students, Center of Excellence for Advanced Multidisciplinary Projects, The National Society of Black Engineers, Circle K and Student Association.