Nightwatch Canteen receives $107,000

United Methodist churches in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area recently received a check for $107,000 from the annual Argus Leader Lend-a-Hand fundraiser.  The Argus Leader, a media company in Sioux Falls, sought out donations from Thanksgiving through Christmas and published a weekly story about the Nightwatch Canteen and its impact on the community, including a plea to support this cooperative effort. This money will be used to purchase a vehicle, equip it and cover costs of insurance and maintenance for the Nightwatch Canteen program to continue delivering meals.
 
Nightwatch Canteen is a Sunday evening feeding program in downtown Sioux Falls.  United Methodist churches take turns cooking and serving hot meals to anyone who needs them.  The seven United Methodist churches involved are:  Asbury, First, Harrisburg, Hilltop, Southern Hills, Sunnycrest and Wesley.    Photo: (Left to right) Bill Albrecht, President and Publisher of Argus Leader Media; Allen Herrboldt, Asbury UMC; Ron Dorsman, Wesley UMC; Rev. Kip Roozen, Asbury UMC; Rev. Laura Borman, Wesley UMC; Greg Robinson, Regional Finance Director, Argus Leader.  Photo courtesy of Argus Leader

Volunteers prepare and serve nourishment with no strings attached, except diners must arrive in person. Everyone who shows up in the parking lots of Raven Industries and First United Methodist Church gets to eat. Often, it’s the homeless, the jobless, or families and children living on limited income. Allen Herrboldt, of Asbury UMC, said the program is an important part of survival for many living below the poverty level. He enjoys seeing people he's met at previous Nightwatch Canteens. "Each event is unique," said Herrboldt, "You become familiar with the faces, and it's always good to greet folks you've come to know over the months. Once I served a man who walked a mile and a half in very bitter cold just to receive his meal." He continued, "Some stop coming, too.You always hope it's because they've moved on to better conditions."
 
The Nightwatch Canteen has prepared and distributed an average of 150 hot meals every Sunday since 2007. Herrboldt has been involved in the effort since its inception, and to his knowledge, free meals have been served every Sunday since 2007. He said because there are seven churches involved, if there is a scheduling conflict, there is always another church able to trade scheduled dates. Generally, 6-8 people will prepare the donated food in their church's kitchen, and the meals are distributed out of about four of the volunteers' personal vans, pickups and SUVs. The turnout for the meals will vary, depending on the weather and the time of the month, but they are always feeding the hungry.

Herrboldt said, "Even the youth groups and the confirmation classes help. They are good workers, servers and ambassadors." Of course, new volunteers are always welcome, Herrboldt says. The organizational committee even hopes to expand their distribution to a third location, and invite other area churches to join in the effort. As long as there are hungry people to feed, there will always be a need for the hands and feet that prepare and serve them meals.

People who are interested in helping with the Canteen should call Rev. Kyle Reinhiller at Harrisburg United Methodist Church, 605-767-2253.