Emergency Food Kits Help SD Seniors Weather Storms

RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) -Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota has distributed emergency food kits to seniors across the region as winter storms threaten to make roads impassable.

The organization began distributing “blizzard bags” in September, providing four days of shelf-stable meals to seniors who rely on the service. The emergency kits contain powdered milk, canned goods, protein, fruits, and vegetables.

“We have gone ahead and distributed our blizzard bags, which allows four days of shelf-stable meals for all of our seniors across western South Dakota with some instructions getting them ready to go,” said George Larson, executive director of Meals on Wheels Western South Dakota.

Volunteers prepare for dangerous conditions

With winter weather expected in the Black Hills and northwest South Dakota, the organization’s four-wheel-drive vehicles will be tested. Larson said ice poses the biggest challenge, as seen in areas like Buffalo and Eagle Butte, where schools canceled classes because of icy roads.

Volunteers have stepped up to deliver meals during severe weather when regular drivers cannot safely navigate the roads.

“We’ve got people that have stepped up that only deliver when the roads and the weather are really, really bad because they know that maybe the little grandmas that sometimes deliver meals can’t do it those days, and so they show up,” Larson said. “And they’ve got their full boots. They’ve got their full snow gear on. They’ve got their big trucks.”

The organization continues seeking volunteers, especially those who can help during severe weather. Interested volunteers can call 394-6002.

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