RAPID CITY, S.D. – A major donation of 10,000 pounds of pork loin arrived in rural and tribal communities across South Dakota on Friday as organizations teamed up to fight food insecurity across South Dakota.

Team Buche Cares partnered with Farmers Union Industries to distribute the meat to rural and tribal communities, including all nine reservations in the state. As part of the initiative, 500 pounds of pork loin were delivered to the Children’s Home Society of South Dakota in Rapid City to highlight the work the organization does daily.

Food insecurity affects more than 113,000 people across South Dakota, including one in five children. To address this, Team Buche Cares continued its journey across the state for its Holiday Meals Program to deliver 40,000 meals to individuals in need.

“The Children’s Home team shows up every day for kids and families who are navigating trauma, providing safety, stability, and healing,” said RF Buche, founder of Team Buche Cares and president and CEO of GF Buche Company. “Our contribution is a small way to support their essential work and to remind our neighbors that they are not alone. It takes all of us, working together, to meet the needs of our communities.”

Jessica Broullire, Child Advocacy Center assistant director at Children’s Home Society, accepted the donation and noted that addressing hunger is vital for trauma treatment.

“Children who have experienced trauma are at greater risk of food insecurity, yet a strong support system can significantly reduce that risk,” Broullire said. “Partners like Team Buche Cares and the SD Farmers Union help ensure children and families have their basic needs met, strengthening the foundation for healing and improving outcomes for the children we serve.”

Farmers Union Industries provided the 10,000-pound donation. Dale R. Bednarek, president and CEO of Farmers Union Industries, stated the farmer-owned company viewed the donation as a responsibility to the community.

“We hope that our support of Team Buche Cares and this donation challenges others to donate and do what they can for others during this time as well,” Bednarek said. “If everyone and every business did a little bit to help, we can all truly make a difference.”

Karla Hofhenke, executive director of the South Dakota Farmers Union, said the partnership reflected rural values.

“At South Dakota Farmers Union, we know the strength of our rural communities depends on neighbors helping neighbors,” Hofhenke said. “That’s why we’ve made a substantial commitment to partner with Team Buche Cares in the fight against food insecurity.”

The delivery took place at 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Children’s Home Society location on South Rockerville Road in Rapid City. Team Buche Cares strengthens rural and tribal communities by fighting hunger and providing help to families in crisis, while the Children’s Home Society, established in 1893, offers emergency shelter, crisis intervention and residential treatment.