Team Buche Cares is mobilizing a series of emergency food distributions across Rosebud Sioux Tribe communities in South Dakota after severe storms impacted the region, with distributions running Aug. 15-24.
The nonprofit arm of G.F. Buche Co. launched the effort as Rosebud Sioux Tribe Interim President Lisa White Pipe declared a state of emergency, with tribal leaders, community partners and volunteers working to respond to immediate needs across the reservation.
“When our neighbors are facing an emergency, the most important thing we can do is respond quickly and make sure families have food,” said RF Buche, president and founder of Team Buche Cares. “Rosebud communities have always been incredibly important to us, and we are grateful to work alongside Tribal leaders and people within these communities to get food directly where it is needed most. When something like this happens, you show up for your neighbors. That is exactly what we intend to do.”
White Pipe said the severe weather created immediate needs for families across the tribe’s communities. “Our priority is making sure our people have access to food and other basic necessities as recovery efforts move forward,” she said. “We are grateful to Team Buche Cares and to everyone who is stepping forward to help. During difficult moments like this, partnerships and people coming together to care for one another make an enormous difference.”
Distribution schedule
The first distributions took place Saturday, Aug. 15, and Monday, Aug. 17. Two more are to follow:
- Thursday, Aug. 20 – Rosebud, 10 a.m., Community Services Building; Village, noon, community building; Antelope, 2 p.m., community building.
- Monday, Aug. 24 – St. Francis, 10 a.m., community building; Parmelee, noon, community building; Black Pipe, 2 p.m., community building.
Team Buche Cares encourages residents and community organizations to share the schedule widely so families who may need assistance know when food will be available. The most up-to-date schedule is available at facebook.com/teambuchecares.
Team Buche Cares works to fight food insecurity and improve access to nutritious food for children and families throughout rural and tribal communities across South Dakota through community partnerships, emergency response efforts and direct food distributions.
Buche Foods is a regional chain of family-owned grocery stores opreated by the G.F. Buche Company, which was established in 1905 and based in South Dakota. Headed by R.F. Buche, a fourth-generation grocer, the company runs several grocery locations across rural South Dakota communities, providing essential fresh produce, meat, bakery items, and general merchandise.