2016 ARDIS TOWNSEND SUPER STARS

It never ceases to amaze me what a giving community we live in. This year our Ardis Townsend Challenge was blessed to be showered with donations to support our Local Food Pantry and the BackPack Program. It is important to know that 100% of everything raised through this drive to "FIGHT HUNGER IN OUR COMMUNITY" Stays in Hughes and Stanley County. Ardis Townsend has become our largest fund raiser for the Pierre/Ft Pierre Food Pantry and BackPack Program for the year. Without the Community Support that we have so deeply been blessed to be supported by we could not do what we do. Pierre Area Referral Service (PARS) is so much more than just the Food Pantry and the BackPack Program but these two valued programs are probably what we are most recognized for. 

PARS would like to THANK everyone that participated this years 2016 Ardis Townsend Challenge. Whether you gave a can of vegetables or donated hundreds of pounds of shelf worthy foods OR threw in your spare change or wrote the big check for (literally) $10,000 dollars EVERY bit has counted toward PARS being able to keep food in our local Pantry and to distribute foods through our BackPack Program to feed those in need... 

THANK YOU'S to:

Our Eight Local Financial Institutions that make the commitment to match a percentage of what we earn. AND not only that, but have their employees participate in a food drive too!

American Bank & Trust,   BankWest,   Blackhills Federal Credit Union,   Dakota Prairie Bank,                             First Dakota National Bank,   First National Bank,   Oahe Federal Credit Union,   US Bank. 

Contributors of 2,000 or more (cash or food donations):

Faith Lutheran Church- I am forever in awe of your dedication to beat "your record" from the year before.($14,000 in cash donations and 2,211.43 pounds of food- TOTAL of 16,211.43 for the cause)

Midwest Cooperatives- CHS

Farm Credit Services of America

Knights of Columbus

Employees from Hughes County, Stanley County/City of Fort Pierre and City of Pierre- What a fun way to challenge each other for a greater good within our communities that each of you represent.

OUR LOCAL BUSINESSES:

Lynn's DakotaMart- Pierre and Fort Pierre Stores,   Korner Grocery,  The Alley Exchange                             Factor 360- (creators of "Take a Bite out of Hunger" Recipe Contest), Nystrom Electrical Contracting Inc, Midwest Construction Inc, Slumberland Furniture, The Last Resort Lodge & Outfitters, BPRO INC, Monty Bechtold- DDS, Hermanson & Swenson DDS, Hogan's Hardware, Hughes County Abstact, KCCR Radio Station, SD Department of Human Services, SD Department of Labor, Servicemaster of Pierre, Avera St Mary's, Pizza Ranch and USDA Governmental Office

OUR LOCAL CHURCHES:

SS Peter and Paul Catholic Church, Lutheran Memorial Church, First United Methodist Church, St. John's Catholic Church, First Congregational United Church of Christ- Pierre, Fort Pierre Congregational Church, Oahe Presbyterian Church, Trinity Episcopal Church, Resurrection Lutheran Church, St Pius Catholic Church- Onida, and Southeast Community Church. 

 SCHOOLS: Georgia Morse Middle School, St Joseph's School, 

ORGANIZATIONS: Sharpe Shooters Disc Golf Organization, ZONTA, The Pierre Youth Orchestra,  American Legion Post 8, Job's Daughters, Mayflower Guild, PEO Chapter CS, Pierre Senior Citizens, 

And the oh so gracious and giving Individuals and Families of our Hughes and Stanley County Communities...