Hunger relief organization Feeding South Dakota received a large donation of food from Minnesota-based Land O’ Lakes this week.
The 40,000-pound delivery of Macaroni and Cheese is something that has become less common for food banks in recent years. Feeding South Dakota Development Associate Jennifer Stensaas says the donation is a big deal.

Stensaas says after the 2008 recession, manufacturers cut back on production, making less excess food. That meant fewer large donations, challenging food banks to look for other ways to fill their shelves.

Hunger relief organizations have also been buying more food. Stensaas says a dollar spent by Feeding South Dakota goes a lot further than a dollar spent at a retailer.

Of the 13.5 million pounds of food Feeding South Dakota distributed in the past year, 1.4 million were purchased.