The impacts of federal funding changes are being felt in South Dakota, and especially on nonprofits reliant on grants. Now, one of the state’s largest nonprofits says this means South Dakota families are going hungry.
Organizations like Feeding South Dakota are feeling the cuts as Trump administration policies make their way to the state.
Lori Dykstra is the groups CEO. She spoke at the most recent meeting of the legislative appropriations committee. She said the group is looking at major losses of both donations and dollars.
“Those cuts mean over 325,000 meals have been discontinued,” Dykstra said.
Feeding South Dakota is the state’s largest food pantry and serves thousands each day.
“We know those are deep cuts we can not make up as an organization, but what we’re also watching is what you’ve heard about with SNAP and Medicaid," Dykstra said. "If we see less people able to utilize those services, that means our lines go up. SNAP service gets people out of food lines.”
While Dykstra said they can manage cutting fat, these cuts are nearing bone.
“If we have to continue cutting, it’s going to get into cutting services in multiple communities," Dykstra said. "We’ve had to identify, because it’s happening right now, that would be 21 mobile food distributions in 15 counties. Counties with food insecurity rates of under 10.9 percent, we would reduce back, which means about 3,400 families monthly would not get food.”
The group reports the highest rate of food insecurity in over a decade at 12.4 percent of South Dakotans. With a population of roughly 925,000, that represents over 115,000 people.