Feeding Brookings provides boxes of food to those in need every Thursday from 3-5 p.m.
Who qualifies?
Some of our food items do have income requirements (see more info below), but everyone who is in need will receive some items. You can come every Thursday (no limit on number of times per year you can get a box). There is no residency requirement. Every household who gets the TEFAP items must fill out a form once a year (June 1 - June 30). Filling out the online weekly registration form fulfills this.
If you can use a box, drive up to Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD any Thursday 3-5pm. We will give you a box of food. Friends or neighbors may pick up for you if you do not have a vehicle (required paperwork is linked below).
Click the "Weekly Registration Tab" each week to register when or before you come! We can also sign you in this way ourselves when you come.
In short: you can just show up Thursday between 3 & 5pm and we will provide you with food.
Contact info:
To volunteer, see our Signup Genius: Sign up here!
Our general email is [email protected]. You may also email Bill with questions about volunteering at [email protected].
See news on our Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/feedingbrookings/
Feeding Brookings has an information phone line: 605 697 0477. We will also update that message if there is a snow day.
Our Mission
Following the example of Jesus when feeding the crowd with just 5 loaves and 2 fish, this ministry’s goal is to feed the hungry of the Brookings area through a weekly grocery distribution.
Who are we?
We are a non-profit giving out groceries every Thursday in Brookings.
We began in 2010 as a mission of Ascension Lutheran Church. All helpers are volunteers.
Where are we?
Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings. 2030 3rd St.
Please drive up and join the line of cars.
Who is served?
All in need are welcome. Please come visit us if you can use the groceries.
We do ask our guests to complete one form each year at the request of the government TEFAP program, which has an income requirement. If your incomes is above the poverty guidelines set forth by the government, you are still able to receive other food items.
If you cannot come yourself, you may have another person pick up for you. BATA public transit does do a limited number of deliveries each week. Call them at 692-2222 early in the week.
Income Levels:
The TEFAP food does have income requirements. (These are some but not all of our items). Those requirements (current as of summer 2025) are available here. Filling out the weekly registration form will meet the requirements of agreeing that you are below the income thresholds for the TEFAP program.
We also have a Spanish version
If you pick up a box containing TEFAP items for someone else, you and they must fill out a proxy form.
What food do we have for you and where do we get it?
Each week we usually have have some canned food (vegetables and meat), fresh produce, meat, a milk coupon (to use at Hy-Vee), bread, and toilet paper. We try our best to have seasonal produce.
We receive food from TEFAP (government program) and purchase food from Feeding South Dakota and from local business such as Hy-Vee and Kwik Star. When in season, we receive donations of produce from local people's gardens. We receive donations from places such as Hy-Vee, Wal-Mart, ALDI, Bel Cheese, and local individuals and organizations. This may not be a comprehensive list.
Through Feeding SD and other organizations, we often can access deals that individuals cannot, so we can usually stretch a dollar further than an individual can. For that reason, and because perishable items are the most in-demand from our guests, we do encourage people to donate money for us (though we do also appreciate donations of food items).
How can you help?
See the Volunteering tab to sign up to volunteer. You can see which makes are most in need of more volunteers. We could not do make Feeding Brookings work every week without volunteers!
To donate, go to the Donation tab. The page looks like a donation to Ascension Lutheran Church but you can designate it to Feeding Brookings. The money will only be used to buy food for Feeding Brookings. When you get to the "Confirm Gift" page, you choose "Special Designation" and choose "Feeding Brookings."
Planting a garden this spring? Plant a little extra for us! Our guests love receiving fresh produce.
What do donations buy?
Feeding Brookings is run by volunteers. Nearly all of your donation will be spent on food. We buy bananas, milk coupons, and eggs every week. Through Feeding America, we can purchase food such as fruit and ground beef at special low prices, so we can make a dollar go further than at a grocery store. We regularly purchase toilet paper and other hygiene items.
Annual Report:
Click here for our 2025 Annual Report
Non-Discrimination:
Feeding Brookings is an equal opportunity provider. For the longer non-discrimination statement, click here.
Who are we?
We are a non-profit giving out groceries every Thursday in Brookings.
We began in 2010 as a mission of Ascension Lutheran Church. All helpers are volunteers.
Where are we?
Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings. 2030 3rd St.
Please drive up and join the line of cars.
Who is served?
All in need are welcome. Please come visit us if you can use the groceries.
We do ask our guests to complete one form each year at the request of the government TEFAP program, which has an income requirement. If your incomes is above the poverty guidelines set forth by the government, you are still able to receive other food items.
If you cannot come yourself, you may have another person pick up for you. BATA public transit does do a limited number of deliveries each week. Call them at 692-2222 early in the week.
Income Levels:
The TEFAP food does have income requirements. (These are some but not all of our items). Those requirements (current as of summer 2025) are available here. Filling out the weekly registration form will meet the requirements of agreeing that you are below the income thresholds for the TEFAP program.
We also have a Spanish version
If you pick up a box containing TEFAP items for someone else, you and they must fill out a proxy form.
What food do we have for you and where do we get it?
Each week we usually have have some canned food (vegetables and meat), fresh produce, meat, a milk coupon (to use at Hy-Vee), bread, and toilet paper. We try our best to have seasonal produce.
We receive food from TEFAP (government program) and purchase food from Feeding South Dakota and from local business such as Hy-Vee and Kwik Star. When in season, we receive donations of produce from local people's gardens. We receive donations from places such as Hy-Vee, Wal-Mart, ALDI, Bel Cheese, and local individuals and organizations. This may not be a comprehensive list.
Through Feeding SD and other organizations, we often can access deals that individuals cannot, so we can usually stretch a dollar further than an individual can. For that reason, and because perishable items are the most in-demand from our guests, we do encourage people to donate money for us (though we do also appreciate donations of food items).
How can you help?
See the Volunteering tab to sign up to volunteer. You can see which makes are most in need of more volunteers. We could not do make Feeding Brookings work every week without volunteers!
To donate, go to the Donation tab. The page looks like a donation to Ascension Lutheran Church but you can designate it to Feeding Brookings. The money will only be used to buy food for Feeding Brookings. When you get to the "Confirm Gift" page, you choose "Special Designation" and choose "Feeding Brookings."
Planting a garden this spring? Plant a little extra for us! Our guests love receiving fresh produce.
What do donations buy?
Feeding Brookings is run by volunteers. Nearly all of your donation will be spent on food. We buy bananas, milk coupons, and eggs every week. Through Feeding America, we can purchase food such as fruit and ground beef at special low prices, so we can make a dollar go further than at a grocery store. We regularly purchase toilet paper and other hygiene items.
Annual Report:
Click here for our 2025 Annual Report
Non-Discrimination:
Feeding Brookings is an equal opportunity provider. For the longer non-discrimination statement, click here.
Monthly Numbers:
Here are the February 2026 guest numbers. Typical weeks in 2026 so far have been around 380 guest households, with occasional spikes to around 440.
Here are the February 2026 guest numbers. Typical weeks in 2026 so far have been around 380 guest households, with occasional spikes to around 440.
What do Feeding Brookings recipients have to say about us? Click the "testimonials button" below to see!
