Mines Students Mobilize to Give Back on MLK Day Holiday

January 11, 2022
Mines Students Mobilize to Give Back on MLK Day Holiday
Mines students collecting canned goods at a local supermarket during a previous MLK day canned food drive. This is the 12th year in a row Mines has taken on the event to benefit Feeding South Dakota and the university student food pantry.

For the 12th 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 12th annual food drive will be from 4 to 6 p.m. Monday, Jan. 17. Student volunteers will be at the following locations in Rapid City: Timmons Neighborhood Market, both Safeway locations, both Walmart locations and both Family Fare locations.

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. Drop-off locations on the Mines Campus include the Physics and Math departments, and at the King Center.

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.

“Our Strategic Plan calls for us to engage in partnerships to transform society,” says Joe Dlugos, Ph.D., Dean of Students at South Dakota Mines. “Following Dr. King's example and giving back for 12 years now is a small step leading to an important transformation here in Rapid City. The best part is South Dakota Mines students are at the center of the work.”

The 2021 food drive brought in more than 1,800 pounds of food and over $600 despite COVID-19 restrictions that limited normal student activity. 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, Hardrockers Dance Team, Society of Physics Students, Alpha Delta Pi, Theta Tau, Formula Racing, Alpha Omega Epsilon, Delta Sigma Phi, Pi Tau Sigma, and Mines Campus Ministries.