50 Faces of Feeding South Dakota

As Feeding South Dakota closes its 50th Anniversary year, CEO Lori Dykstra joins us to reflect on the milestones, lessons, and gratitude that defined the past year. She also looks ahead, sharing her vision for the future and how the organization will continue working toward a hunger-free South Dakota.

Greg Sands opens up about his journey from personal hardship to becoming a successful business owner committed to giving back. He shares how a partnership with Feeding South Dakota began through the annual Thanksgiving meal giveaway and why building a culture of generosity has become central to his business. As Greg looks toward the future, he reflects on the impact of service, community, and the lasting legacy of helping neighbors in need.

To honor Feeding South Dakota’s 50 years of service, Lance Smith and Barry Sackett organized a 50K run that brought the running community together to help end hunger. Inspired by Kwik Star locations, the event grew into a partnership that proves when creativity meets community, the impact can be extraordinary.

Casey’s District Manager Jana McKay joins us to explore how a simple question at checkout — “Would you like to round up?” — has transformed into thousands of meals for South Dakotans facing hunger. From how it all started to the amazing community support and the incredible outcome, this episode shows how every penny truly counts.

Jeff Olson, president of South Dakota Sportsmen Against Hunger, joins us to talk about the vital role outdoorsmen play in feeding neighbors across the state. He shares how the partnership with Feeding South Dakota began, how the program has grown and evolved, and the incredible number of pounds of donated game meat that now support the charitable food network. Jeff also explains how hunters can get involved and continue making an impact through Sportsmen Against Hunger.

In this conversation, we sit down with Tim Meagher, COO of Vanguard Hospitality, who shares how he found his way into the restaurant industry and why food has always been about more than what’s on the plate. From feeding paying customers to ensuring neighbors don’t go without, he’s created a unique model of giving back. His story is a reminder that each of us has the power to spark change and help build healthier, stronger communities—one act of generosity at a time.

Feeding South Dakota’s Chief Development Officer joins us to highlight all the ways people can help fight hunger across the state—many of which may surprise you. From traditional donations to volunteering, from business partnerships to giving through workplace or planned gifts, there are countless ways to make a difference. This Hunger Action Month, discover how every contribution, big or small, fuels the mission to ensure no neighbor goes hungry.

To launch Hunger Action Month, we’re joined by Feeding America CEO Claire Babineaux-Fontenot for an inspiring conversation about the state of hunger across the nation—and right here at home. She shares why this campaign is such a powerful moment for communities to come together and take action, and how local efforts are part of a larger movement to ensure every neighbor has access to the food they need. Claire’s message is one of urgency, hope, and the reminder that each of us has a role to play in ending hunger.

When a student quietly asked for food to take home, teacher Hope Armstrong knew she had to act. That simple question sparked what has become a thriving, student-supported pantry at Georgia Morse Middle School in Pierre, led by Hope and her daughter Harrison, a fellow teacher. In this episode, the mother-daughter duo shares how the pantry grew from a small grab-and-go shelf to a dedicated space that provides food access with dignity, compassion, and care.

In 2006, Jeanne McKenna was the principal at North Middle School in Rapid City when she realized too many of her students were going hungry over the weekend. Determined to find a solution, she launched South Dakota’s very first BackPack Program—an idea sparked by a national news story and fueled by her deep care for kids. This episode is a powerful reminder that one person’s vision can grow into a statewide movement that feeds thousands of children every week.