Mines students collecting canned goods at a local supermarket during a
previous MLK day canned food drive. This is the 13th year in a row Mines has
taken on the event to benefit Feeding South Dakota and the university student
food pantry.
For the 13th 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 student food pantry at
Mines.
The 13th annual food drive will be from 4 to 6 p.m.
Monday, Jan. 16. Student volunteers will be at the following locations in Rapid
City: Timmons Neighborhood Market, both Safeway locations, both Walmart
locations, both Family Fare locations and the Breadroot Cooperative.
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 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 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 students recognize the importance of
advancing our community through charitable giving and serving learning,” says Joe
Dlugos, Ph.D., Dean of Students at South Dakota Mines. “In 1964, Dr. Martin
Luther King Jr. earned the Noble Peace Prize for his work and then immediately
donated the prize money of over $50,000 right back into the movements that
meant the most to him. In 2023, South Dakota Mines students can recreate the
selflessness of this act by donating their time, their energy and their funds
for food in the 13th year of this special event."
The 2022 food drive brought in more than 2,803 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, Triangle, Circle K, Pi Tau Sigma, Beta Delta Mu, Society of Physics
Students, the National Society of Black Engineers and Mines Campus Ministries.