When the Legislature agreed with Rep. Susy Blake’s idea to disband South Dakota’s food-tax refund program, the challenge was to find a method to legally distribute the money for another useful purpose. The state Department of Social Services announced four grants today that will spread the remaining $840,000. Blake, D-Sioux Falls, originally suggested giving the money to Feeding South Dakota. Legislators pointed out the legal difficulties of identifying a specific recipient. Instead Sen. Corey Brown, R-Gettysburg, fashioned the compromise that brought Social Services into the mix. Social Services requested proposals and today declared recipients of the grants. They are:
Feeding South Dakota gets $491,813 to purchase a truck and food, and make deliveries to lowest-income, least-populated counties;
Rural Office of Community Services gets $66,000 to help establish food pantries in areas that aren’t served;
Western South Dakota Community Action Agency receives $225,000 for a mobile food pantry to help people in rural areas; and
Messiah New Hope in Sioux Falls gets $57,250 to expand its Break Bread program that transports excess prepared food from establishments and delivers the food to needy people in Sioux Falls.
#1 by Ambiguous on July 23, 2012 - 5:32 pm
This is an impressive piece of legislation. I have followed your reporting on it very closely.
Senator Suzy Blake and Senator Corey Brown should be commended.
#2 by Angus on July 24, 2012 - 3:35 am
For the record Suzy Blake is a representative and I believe the change Senator Brown brought to this legislation made it comply with SD’s Constitution.