BROOKINGS — The Brookings Area United Way’s Volunteer United program recently announced the Senior Boxes group has been named the January 2024 Volunteer of the Month, an area-wide award program sponsored by First Bank & Trust.

The Senior Boxes program is run by seven core volunteers — Joyce Barse, Mark Binkley, David Clark, Don Jacobson, Lisa Marotz, Nanette Schroeder and Leon Wrage — who cumulatively have around 55 years of experience. Once a month, the volunteers coordinate the distribution and delivery of the boxes, both in person and delivery.

Before the start of 2023, when Brookings Area United Way began offering administrative support, these volunteers completely ran this program.

The Senior Boxes program is provided through the USDA’s Commodity Supplemental Nutrition Program and Feeding South Dakota partners with the South Dakota Department of Education to administer a free, pre-packaged box of non-perishable food to adults ages 60 and over who meet the income guidelines. This program currently serves around 55 people within Brookings County. These boxes are designed to supplement nutrients typically lacking in an older adult’s diet.

The Senior Box volunteers have made an invaluable difference for those receiving the boxes and have allowed this program to exist here in Brookings County.

If you are interested in this program, whether to volunteer or sign up, call Brookings Area United Way at 605-692-4979 or email uw@brookingsunitedway.org.