YANKTON, S.D. (AP) - A South Dakota collective is addressing food insecurity in a southeastern county by collecting kitchenware, food storage containers and other cooking supplies.
The Yankton Hunger Collaborative launched the special collection drive this month to direct donations toward an often missed facet of food insecurity, the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan reported . The collective is part of the United Way of Greater Yankton and comprised of local food-related agencies, including Feeding Yankton, the Yankton Food Council and Mount Marty College.
There are about 2,570 Yankton County residents who lack access to a sufficient amount of affordable and nutritious food, said Angela Knodel, a nutrition assistant at the South Dakota State University Extension.
“We realized there are a lot of needs not being met with people who are food insecure not having the cooking supplies needed,” Knodel said. “A lot of them are utilizing the food pantries, but not necessarily being able to cook the food that they’re getting at the food pantries.”
She said cooking at home allows residents to “cut down on fats, sodium, added sugar and make meals healthier for their families.”
The collective plans to distribute the cooking supplies to different service agencies in Yankton. The group accepts donations such as utensils, can openers, baking sheets, measuring spoons, cooking thermometers and gently used pots and pans. Donations can be dropped off at Walmart, the United Way’s Yankton offices or the Yankton County Extension Office through the end of June.
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Information from: Yankton Press and Dakotan, http://www.yankton.net/
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