Food pantry welcomes those in need

Tea residents in need of a helping hand can find food at the food pantry. The pantry, housed at Trinity Lutheran Church, is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. or by appointment if needed.

Food pantry coordinators Ruth Anderson and Laurie Berg work with Risen Savior, St. Nicholas Catholic Church and Living Hope to stock the shelves at the pantry. Anderson said the community has been supportive of the food pantry.

“We do take donations for the food pantry anytime. The school keeps us really well supplied and so do the other churches and the (Boy and Cub) Scouts,” Anderson said. “They’ve just done scouting for food so we’re really well equipped right now.”

Besides non-perishable food items, they also accept donations of toiletries and paper products, as well as monetary donations.

Tea residents can come to the food pantry once a month. If they are new, they will need to show a driver’s license. Anderson said as long as they have a Tea address, they are welcome to come to the food pantry at Trinity Lutheran.

“We feel like Sioux Falls has got so many more outlets for food and if our Tea people come into Sioux Falls, they won’t give them food. They send them back to Tea,” Anderson said. “If you’re hurting and you need some help, come. We’re here.”

Anderson estimates she has about 30 people coming in on a regular basis. She encourages anyone who might need some food assistance to come in and let them help them.

“We’re here to help. Not everybody knows about us… [some] feel too proud to come in,” Anderson said. “We have plenty of food.”

Trinity Lutheran Church is located at 335 W. 1st St. in Tea.