Nov. 22, 2022

This paid piece is sponsored by Knife River South Dakota.

On most days, the maintenance shop at Knife River’s Sioux Falls quarry and production plant is filled with mechanics working on trucks and other large equipment.

This past Saturday, though, cars lined up at the nearby W.H. Lyon Fairgrounds beginning before 5 a.m. as the Knife River shop building became a crucial stop for their Thanksgiving holiday.

“They’re pros over there. They’ve got a great facility and couldn’t be more accommodating and a real partner,” said Matt Burns, chief operations officer for Feeding South Dakota.

For the past two years, Knife River has offered its facilities to support Feeding South Dakota’s Thanksgiving dinner giveaway.

“They needed a place that was sheltered and allowed access to restrooms for volunteers and guests, and they asked if there was a chance we could help,” said Clark Meyer, president of Knife River in Sioux Falls. “These guests are our neighbors. Their kids go to school with our kids, and this is their time of need. So this is one small way we can give back to the community and participate in a way that makes a difference.”

And it makes a big difference.

Last year, 1,000 boxes were distributed, which feeds 6,000 people. This year, 1,118 boxes filled with a 5.5 pound turkey breast, stuffing, potatoes, apples,  carrots, canned vegetables, cranberry sauce, gravy and croissant rolls were loaded into guests’ vehicles through an operation choreographed by Feeding South Dakota and Knife River, supported by the Sioux Falls Police Department.

“We had volunteers from Knife River and couldn’t have done it without their help,” Burns said. “Together, we all handled traffic control inside and outside the building along with handing out items inside the building.”

Knife River’s forklift even was used to help unload boxes of food to get them ready for distribution.

“It’s a big undertaking, and it takes a lot of volunteers,” said Brig Schilling, equipment general manager, who coordinates the Knife River team.

“Our mechanics do most of the cleaning ahead of the event – at least three solid days of cleaning – and we get together 25 to 30 volunteers for the day of the event, so it’s a lot of manpower and a lot of moving parts, but it’s amazing how well it flows.”

And by the time the distribution begins at 8 a.m., “it becomes a lot of fun to watch the smiling faces that come through that line,” Schilling said.

“And it’s a humbling thing for us to see all those people come through. It took courage to get in that line, and we’re just happy to help in any way we can.”

It’s also a growing need this year as Feeding South Dakota has seen demand grow by 30 percent to 35 percent.

“And that’s just in what we’re seeing at our mobile distribution,” Burns said. “It absolutely is inflation. Families are forced to decide which bills to pay – the heating bill coming into winter, the gas bill to get to work, the medical bill, insurance or rent. And you spend five minutes in any grocery store, and we’re all shocked by what we get for our money.”

The Thanksgiving distribution is an extra, done in addition to the normal food distribution for the month and thanks to a lot of generosity from donors.

“I just think that anytime you can help your neighbor it’s a good thing,” Meyer said. “This was a chance to use the resources we have to do something good and give back.”

What’s next

This is just the start of the holiday season for the Knife River team. As soon as Schilling and his crew were done with the Feeding South Dakota event, they began prepping for a return to this Friday’s Downtown Parade of Lights and this Saturday’s parade in Brandon.

“My busiest week of the year with Feeding South Dakota just turned into my two busiest weeks, but I don’t mind at all,” Schilling said.

Here’s a peek at what they’re working on in the shop now:

Stay tuned next week to see the finished product!