Hungry Hearts match, donors and new state law fund 85,850 school lunches for Sioux Falls students

ROSA PARKS ELEMENTARY — Hungry Hearts organizers, community donors and recent state action will provide 85,850 school lunches for students in the Sioux Falls School District, district and program representatives announced at Rosa Parks Elementary on Tuesday.

Dr. Nold, who led the district remarks, said food insecurity is a barrier to learning and credited state lawmakers and community partners for advancing a solution. "Education is what's been called the great equalizer," Dr. Nold said, adding that about "55% of our students in the Sioux Falls School District elementary schools can qualify for free and reduced price lunches." He credited House Bill 1082 and local advocates for extending full free lunches to students who previously qualified only for reduced-price meals.

The announcement highlighted a matching campaign by the Hungry Hearts Program. Organizers said the foundation raised $100,000 that was matched by community donors to pay for meals for families who narrowly miss federal eligibility but still struggle to cover regular school lunch costs. At the event, organizers staged a reveal of the final number: "85,850 meals will be given to kids in the Sioux Falls School District," the presenters said.

Hungry Hearts co-founder Mark Vander told the audience the group's focus is the "next tier" of families who "make a little too much" to qualify for federal assistance. "Hungry Hearts started out as a small benefit to feed the kids," Vander said. "We couldn't do it without businesses and the community helping out to make sure these kids got a hot lunch."

Jesse Sieverson, also a Hungry Hearts co-founder, said the organization will continue fundraising as demand rises. "The need is going to be greater more now than ever," Sieverson said, urging ongoing community support.

Independent donor Alyssa Proch Husman, owner of APH Counseling, said she gave because she wants to support the "whole child," extending help beyond clinical services into community systems that back students and families. "I donate to this cause because I believe in supporting the whole child," Proch Husman said.

Gay Anderson, child nutrition coordinator for the Sioux Falls School District, described how the district and Hungry Hearts worked to identify children who miss the free-or-reduced cutoff and to provide meals for them. Anderson said the partnership and the new state measure will allow the district to furnish "85,000 plus meals" to students previously left in a coverage gap, calling the founders "very humble" partners who helped shape the policy approach.

Event organizers also announced fundraising events that will support the ongoing effort, including a Hungry Hearts golf tournament on June 1 at the Country Club of Sioux Falls with a noon shotgun start and a 32-team field. Organizers asked businesses and individuals to consider sponsorships and said registration information would be posted on the group's Facebook page.

Speakers closed by thanking donors, the district board members present — Mark Merwin and Gail Swenson — students from Rosa Parks Elementary and local media for coverage. The public portion of the presentation ended with a light moment about the check presentation and a student asking, "WHAT ABOUT PIZZA?" The district and Hungry Hearts representatives said they will continue outreach and fundraising to sustain the program.