Since 1974

Pierre/Ft. Pierre Food Pantry
108 West Missouri Avenue Pierre, SD 57501

Pantry is by appointment only.

Please call 605-224-8731 for services. 

Our mission is to help eliminate hunger to those in need within our community. Want to help? View volunteer information here.

Our History

The Pantry started out in a closet at the Lutheran Memorial Church in 1974. The Pantry made several moves throughout the years until the City of Pierre donated a portion of the old City Auditorium to house the Pantry in 1992. In 2011 the Pantry moved again as the Auditorium was deemed unsafe. Once again the City of Pierre donated space in the City-owned property currently being utilized by the Boys & Girls Club to also house the Food Pantry and the BackPack Program. The move took place in March with the help of numerous volunteers.

In March of 2005 Pierre Area Referral Service took over the administration of the program. The Pantry operates solely by volunteers and relies on the generosity of area churches, local businesses, clubs/organizations, Capital Area United Way, and individuals like you to provide food and/or financial donations to purchase food for distribution. The Pantry purchases a certain amount of food through Feeding South Dakota (handling fee of 18 cents per pound) but the bulk of the food items distributed come through donations.

In 2016 a total of 3,345 households received food assistance through the Food Pantry and other Food Projects, which represents over 6,900 individuals(Adults and Children) that were feed through our Pantry programs. The Pantry is supported by a United Way Allocation, and the generosity of the Pierre and Fort Pierre Communities, whether it be a Food Drive or a Monetary Donation to keep the shelves filled.  Our major Food and Fundraiser for the Pantry is the Ardis Townsend Challenge in the Spring. Many different Organizations, Churches, Businesses and Individuals make it possible for PARS to continue to Fight Hunger in our Community. It is important to know that any donation made to Pierre Area Referral Service- Food or Money, STAYS IN HUGHES AND STANLEY COUNTY. PARS is LOCAL and everything helps those within our community.

Sportsmen Against Hunger (SAH) – A non-profit organization that encourages South Dakota hunters to donate a portion or all of their wild game to help in the fight against hunger. This program coordinates with local game processors who agree to process, at a reduced cost, wild game that will be donated to area hunger-fighting organizations including the Food Pantry. In 2013 the City partnered up with SAH and allowed the Deer Harvest within City Limits to be donated to the Pantry. In the future if there is a need for a harvest Deer meat will be donated to the local Food Pantry. At anytime if there is a hunter that has left over game and would like to donate to the Pantry we would be grateful.

Ardis Townsend Challenge to Fight Hunger – Taking Local Pride one step farther… For every POUND of FOOD and for EVERY DOLLAR DONATED to the Pierre/Ft Pierre Food Pantry or to the BackPack Program between March 1st and April 30th~ American Bank & Trust, BankWest, Black Hills Federal Credit Union, First Fidelity Bank, First Dakota National Bank, First National Bank, Oahe Credit Union and US Bank have agreed to provide a percentage MATCHING FUND!!! This Challenge is one of our biggest Drives to support the Pantry and BackPack Program.

Pierre and Fort Pierre Churches– Local churches conduct an internal food drives on a monthly rotation schedule with all collections being donated to the local Food Pantry.

Bakery Items – Lynn’s Dakotamart in Pierre and Ft. Pierre donate their bakery items and collect food items to be donated to the Pantry each week. PARS is also blessed to receive donations from Walmart.