Great Plains Food Bank is proud to support Fort Yates Public Schools in launching their new school pantry, serving students and families on the Standing Rock Reservation. As inflation continues and changes to SNAP eligibility go into effect, some families have faced new challenges in accessing food. Neal and his team stepped in to help fill a critical gap. This school pantry will serve Fort Yates and the surrounding communities, reaching an estimated 4,000–5,000 neighbors who can benefit from this vital resource.
Open Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the pantry goes beyond providing food. Families can access the open gym, a computer lab, and children can pick up donated books alongside groceries. Grants have also supported culturally relevant foods, like processed buffalo, and a hydroponic wall garden for hands-on student learning. Student Council members help organize the pantry, gaining valuable leadership experience while giving back to their community.
“This may sound corny,” Neal says, “but if we can’t assure that our kids are safe and well-fed, we’re floundering.”
We’re excited to deepen our partnership with Fort Yates Public Schools and the surrounding community. Together, we’re helping ensure children have access to nutritious meals and families can obtain culturally relevant foods. This collaboration supports practical solutions to hunger and strengthens food access for the community as a whole.