The Brookings Rotary Club surpassed its goal of 2,021 donations as part of last week’s “Stock Jack’s Cupboard” service project.
Jack’s Cupboard is a free on-campus pantry resource for SDSU students who are experiencing food insecurity.
 
Rotarians collected non-perishable food and toiletry items for a week at the drop-off location at Dacotah Bank, culminating with car-side pickup on Tuesday, Feb. 16. This effort garnered about 600 items, which were delivered by Rotarians to the Cupboard the next day. Then, with monetary donations made by club and community members, Rotarians shopped at Hy-Vee for the remaining items to help them reach their goal, delivering the remaining items to the Cupboard on Friday. Cupboard volunteers and SDSU students Erica Koster and Kendra Eichten assisted with the unloading.
 
“Thanks to the community for its support of this project,” said Rotary Club President Don Norton. “Once again, Brookings area residents have come through to help Rotary provide ‘Service Above Self.’ ” Norton noted the register receipt from Hy-Vee was 20 feet long.
 
“We are very grateful for the support and generosity of Hy-Vee, and especially to management staff Nathan and the cashier and bagging employees, who helped us shop for five cartsful of items!”
 
Norton also recognized the help of the Brookings Register and radio station KBRK for their help in informing the public about the project.
 
 
Rotarians who volunteered included Yvette Campbell, Steve Carnes, Jennifer Soma, Keith Bartels, Don Norton, Kay Norton, Jim Gilkerson, Deb DeBates, Rebecca Harman, Marcia Janssen, Larry Janssen, and Rich Widman.