Starting in June, Running Strong for American Indian Youth® will once again operate its Summer Youth Feeding Program (SYFP) on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation in South Dakota. This year, the program is expanding to four communities: Cherry Creek, Red Scaffold, LaPlante, and Swift Bird.
For families across the reservation, the Summer Youth Feeding Program has become a trusted resource during the summer months, ensuring children continue to have access to nutritious meals when school is out of session.
Why This Program Matters
When schools close for summer break, so do the cafeterias that provide daily meals for many children. For families already facing food insecurity, the loss of school meals can create an additional burden.
That’s where Running Strong steps in.
For 10 weeks each summer, any child or youth under age 18 can visit one of the feeding sites and receive a free lunch along with a take-home meal for later in the day. Together, these meals help bridge the summer hunger gap and ensure children have access to the nutrition they need to stay healthy and active.
Each lunch is packed with kid-friendly favorites, including ham or peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, fresh fruit such as apples or grapes, milk, juice, and snacks like yogurt, pudding, crackers, and peanut butter. Children also receive a take-home meal for later in the day, helping ensure they have access to nutritious food beyond lunchtime.
Expanding Access Across the Reservation
The four feeding sites are located at the Red Scaffold Catholic Church, the Boys & Girls Club in LaPlante, the nutrition center in Cherry Creek, and the Swift Bird community.
These sites are more than meal distribution points. They are gathering places where children can connect with friends, interact with community members, and enjoy a welcoming environment throughout the summer.
Thanks to the program’s open-site policy, there are no registration forms or eligibility requirements. Any child or youth under age 18 can stop by and receive a free meal.
This approach removes barriers and helps ensure that no child is turned away.
Real Impact, Real Numbers
This summer, the program is expected to serve approximately 260 children each day across all four locations.
Over the course of the summer, Running Strong anticipates distributing:
- 13,000 lunches
- 13,000 take-home meals
- 26,000 total meals
For many children, these meals provide consistent nutrition during a time of year when access to food can be uncertain.
“A lot of children would go without lunch if it wasn’t for the Billy Mills Running Strong Program,” said Summer Food Coordinator Stacie Lee.
Her observation reflects the reality many families face and underscores why the program remains such an important resource across the reservation.
More Than Meals
Since launching in 2005, the Summer Youth Feeding Program has served as a lifeline for children and families on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
The program not only helps address childhood hunger but also provides seasonal employment opportunities at the feeding sites, creating additional benefits for the community.
For nearly two decades, Running Strong has remained committed to ensuring children have access to healthy meals throughout the summer. That long-term investment continues to strengthen families, support communities, and provide peace of mind for parents and caregivers.
As the program expands to serve a fourth community this year, its impact will reach even more children across the reservation.
The Summer Youth Feeding Program is more than a meal program—it is a commitment to the health, well-being, and future of Native youth.
