The Table of Plenty at Holy Trinity Parish. Photo courtesy of Carol Larson.
By Laura Melius
Implementing creative ways to provide for both bodies and souls has been an additional mission for a few parishes in the Diocese of Sioux Falls.
The St. Katharine Drexel Food and Diaper Pantry was founded shortly after the church in Sioux Falls was built in 2008.
Elise McGinley, administrative assistant at St. Katharine Drexel Parish, explained, “It was originally started by a parishioner who wanted to minister to those in our church community who were struggling to feed their families, and it gave those that had extra shelf-stable food an opportunity to share their surplus.”
The pantry has since expanded to serve the greater Sioux Falls community. Guests who visit the pantry may receive one bag of nutritious shelf-stable food, and one bag of diapers and a pack of wipes, if needed, per week, during open hours.
“It has always been well received,” she continued. “Parishioners and community members help support efforts to provide food and diapers to those who need it.”
Parishioners fund the pantry through both food and monetary donations. Monetary donations are used to purchase food through the government agency, “Feeding South Dakota.” Students host a Thanksgiving food drive each year to supplement the pantry through the holiday season, and this past year, classes made Thanksgiving cards to add additional cheer for their guests.
“It is a joy to be able to share the gifts given to us by God with our fellow brothers and sisters,” Elise said.
Sharing our gifts
A couple of hours to the northwest in Huron, the Table of Plenty at Holy Trinity Parish has been providing supplemental food since the early 2000s as well.
“The simple objective of the Table of Plenty was to encourage people to share their non-perishable food items with others,” Carol Larson, who serves in Holy Trinity outreach, said. “The Table of Plenty is available to anyone who comes through our doors. It is located in the entryway of the church, and visible and accessible to all.”
The Table of Plenty may be accessed at any time and by anyone who comes through the parish doors, whether to donate or take the food they need.
All food is supplied through donations. As grocery bags are dropped off, the food is incorporated into the food items already in place. Currently, parishioner Judy DeJean checks the area daily, straightens up, adds new items and keeps track of items that might not belong there, such as perishables. If there is an overabundance, the parish shares with the Food Bank at the Salvation Army in Huron. A large table is added during the harvest season for donated garden produce. The harvest-time table frequently features assorted vegetables, tomatoes, onions and sweet corn to share, allowing the abundance to be used and not wasted.
The Table of Plenty continues to be embraced by the Huron community as it enters its second quarter-century of service. The parish recognizes its twofold purpose.
“While we trust that this little Table of Plenty does address hunger in our community, it also provides people with an opportunity for lay evangelization in the spirit of the bishop’s vision for our diocese,” Carol explained. “It addresses the basic tenet of our Catholic faith and the corporal work of mercy to feed the hungry. Our Table of Plenty is a small, humble attempt to serve the basic needs of others, which on any scale is a good thing. For sure, this is a very easy yoke, easy to set up, maintain and manage from week to week.”
Spreading north
Holy Trinity Parish was unaware that their “humble attempt” extended farther north to Mellette after All Saints parishioner Denise Clemens visited the parish in early 2025.
Denise is a member of All Saints Parish’s Faith in Action group, which provides meals, prayer quilts and other supplies for those in the parish and community who are ill or are in need.
The town of Mellette includes Northwestern School, whose district encompasses nine smaller towns over a large geographical area. Although Mellette has a convenience store, the closest grocery stores are at least 20 miles away for most.
Faith in Action had been considering adding a small food shelf to the church entry, to both fill a need and for convenience.
“When I first saw Huron’s food shelf last year, I thought, ‘What a great way to outreach locally,’” Denise shared. “We are in such a remote area, and often when we collect food items, we send them to bigger towns. Sometimes our local needs are missed.”
Religious education students soon assembled two bookshelves, and Faith in Action filled one with non-perishable food to start. The other bookshelf was filled with donated Catholic books for all ages. They named it the Loaves and Fishes Ministry.
“Loaves and Fishes is a great way to help with food items for those in need, and also if someone just needs an item and doesn’t want to drive to get it,” Denise explained. “This food shelf and mini-grocery store all in one is available to all, not just parishioners. Maybe, when people step into our parish for food, they will also take a moment to refresh their souls spiritually.”
As Loaves and Fishes is just a year old, it is still being determined what items are used and which are not. All are welcome to donate food or books. It is restocked and organized as needed.
Denise finds it comforting to know that the parish is caring for the bodies and souls of all in their expansive community.
“The health (spiritual and physical) of our parishioners and community members is often overlooked as we go about our daily lives. This program is a reminder, which I so often need myself, of what Jesus calls us to do,” she added. “Sometimes, the Holy Spirit just leads us to where we need to go. When I see the shelves in our parish, I am reminded of what Jesus calls us to do—feed the hungry in whatever way we are capable of doing.”
Laura Melius is a freelance writer and parishioner at All Saints Parish in Mellette. She has a degree in English and a certificate in Catholic catechesis.
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The St. Katharine Drexel Food/Diaper Pantry is open Monday and Friday, 9 a.m. to noon, and Tuesday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. The other two are self-serve and always open.
