KC Herman, Board Chair
Dear Friends, Supporters, and Beloved Community,
At its core, The Banquet is more than a meal ministry. It is a place where hearts are fed as much as bodies, where volunteers and guests alike experience community in its most generous form. In 2025 alone, The Banquet continued to be a cornerstone of support for our neighbors. On average, we serve over 250 guests per meal, with hundreds of volunteers contributing their time each week to prepare and serve meals. Every meal served at The Banquet is a testament to the commitment of volunteers, donors, sponsors, and partners who believe that no one in our community should go hungry. Through your time, generosity and advocacy, you make it possible for hundreds of guests to sit at the table with dignity and warmth.
As we close another remarkable year of service, I am filled with profound gratitude for your steadfast partnership in The Banquet’s mission. For 40 years, this ministry has stood as a beacon of compassion in Sioux Falls, bringing people together to serve nutritious meals, share fellowship, and affirm the inherent worth of every person who walks through our doors. The rich history inspires me to step-up and chair The Banquet for the coming year.
Together, we are strengthening the fabric of our community, one meal at a time. Whether it is through preparing a meal, serving with a smile, sponsoring the dining room, or inviting others to join this mission, your influence amplifies far beyond the dining room.
This work is shaped by the countless hands that chop, serve, welcome, and uplift; by the voices that share stories and invite connection; by hearts that choose compassion over indifference. In the face of economic headwinds and the persistence of food insecurity, your support reminds every person who walks through The Banquet’s doors that they are seen, valued, and cherished.
The economic landscape of 2025 has tested our community in profound ways. Rising costs and persistent financial pressures continue to stretch family budgets thin, leaving more of our neighbors facing uncertainty about where their next meal will come from. Food insecurity remains a pressing concern across the country, including right here at home. In this climate, our work is not just needed; it is essential.
These trends are reflected in the stories of the people we serve daily, seniors on fixed incomes, working families balancing rising costs, individuals rebuilding their lives, and children whose access to consistent nourishment is vital to their development. Your participation fuels this ministry’s growth and amplifies its influence.
Our mission, to welcome the community to gather and serve each other feeding body and spirit, could not be more vital at this moment.
As we look toward 2026, we see both challenges and extraordinary possibilities. The need for community support
will continue to rise, but so too will our capacity to respond, because of YOU. Your continued engagement, whether by serving meals, donating resources, or simply spreading the word strengthens not only our capacity to feed more people but also our ability to foster the kind of lasting social support that transforms lives.
On behalf of the Board of Directors and all who benefit from this ministry, thank you for walking alongside The Banquet.
With deepest appreciation,
KC
