LIFESTYLE
Finding transportation is hard in tribal communities, which makes the whole situation exacerbated. RF says many have to buy a ride, getting charged $20-$50 to get to a grocery store up to 45 miles away. “At that point they’re basically almost out of money for food. It infuriates me,” said RF. “That's money that could have been going toward food or diapers or whatever they need.” GF Buche Company is also sensitive to SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits, which comes out on the 10th of each month. “We'll stay open until 2 o'clock in the morning because those SNAP benefits will kick in at midnight, and you'll see people you know quite frankly haven't had food in days,” said RF. “I've seen people bring their kids in and lay a blanket down in a cart with a blanket overtop to put them back to sleep, and use another cart for shopping for groceries because they haven't eaten.” In South Dakota, one in five people have food insecurity (over 130,000 people), and 20% of them are children. Staggering facts like this pushes RF to find more ways to help the rural and tribal communities. For example, eight Buche Foods and Gus Stop locations started offering 50% off qualifying skim and 1% milk for SNAP shoppers through the Add Milk federal incentive program in September. The same month they also partnered with South Dakota State University Extension to help SNAP dollars go further for families buying fresh produce with Double Up Food Bucks South Dakota , matching purchases on eligible fruits and vegetables.
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