At the Banquet

Tess Brinkerhoff, AIJI Staff Writer

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. — Tom Davis, 52, lives where he lays his hat.

I choose not to have a home. I don’t want to stay at the mission; if you stay there one night they ask you to leave. And it leaks,” Davis said. “You wouldn’t want to live there, either. I live in my tent, and I like it.”

The Banquet is a feeding ministry. It began 23 years ago, to help the hunger problem in Sioux Falls. It has 950 volunteer groups that come to serve the hungry. The banquet calls them guests.

“The mission was to figure out how to feed people, with dignity, and without judgment,” said Madeline Shields, special projects director. “Our volunteers come to serve the hungry, the homeless, the elderly and the low income. We have 300 to 400 people a night, and we serve them all between 6 and 7:30 p.m.”

There is nowhere else for people from all walks of life to go in the city to get to know one another in an intimate setting, said Marvella Shatter, food service director.

“The other day at breakfast I saw a husband, wife and four children. They looked like family that you would see shopping at Target, but they were here eating because they couldn’t do it anymore,” Shatter said.

The Banquet has many programs to try to better the Sioux Falls community, including Plan S.O.S, which stands for Supply Our Students. Volunteers pack up school supplies for the students, per grade, and give out about 4,400 backpacks each year, Shields said.

The Banquet is volunteer and donation based. A group of 40 is needed to serve evening meals and 15 to 18 for breakfast. Each group purchases, prepares and serves the food and helps with cleanup duties.

The Banquet is a nonprofit, 501(c)3 organization. Nearly the entire operating budget is derived from private donations. Cash and material donations are relied on to pay for milk, coffee and juice; supplies and equipment; and staffing and building costs. All donations are tax deductible.

The slowing economy has hurt the group. Its donators aren’t able to support the Banquet like they used to, Shatter said. Donators that used to be able to give however much was needed now have limitations.

“We might be doing okay right now. But I know in about three months it’s going to be really hard around here when it comes to getting food,” Shatter said. “Especially meat.”

For information on how to volunteer or make donations visit: www.thebanquetsf.org

To Guatemala, with Love

By M.J. Casiano, AIJI Staff Writer 

Diane Nesselhuf visits Guatemala three times a year, but this trip will be different.

This time, she will find land for a clinic.

Nesselhuf, a 58-year-old Burbank native and mother of five, has been helping make a difference in Guatemalan children lives, but believes there is still more to be done.

She founded Sharing the Dream, a non-profit organization devoted to improve the lives of Guatemala’s indigenous people.

In Guatemala, many parents cannot afford to keep their children and give them up for adoption.

She adopted two, Ana and Jose-Miguel.

“Parents should not have to relinquish children,” Nesselhuf said.

The day her family adopted Jose-Miguel was a life-changing experience. She went to Guatemala and wished Jose-Miguel a happy birthday.

She asked Jose-Miguel if he knew how she knew it was his birthday and he didn’t know. She replied that all mothers know their children’s birthdays. The boy gave her a big hug.

A tear rolled down Nesselhuf’s cheek during the storytelling.

Nesselhuf began working with indigenous mountain inhabitants who needed help marketing their products.

In Vermillion, the organization operates a store, which is run by volunteers.

All profit is returned back to the orphanage.

One volunteer, Kelsey Collier-Wise, is a University of South Dakota law student, although she doesn’t want to practice law. Her goal is to finish law school and continue working for the organization.

“Life is not about money,” Nesselhuf said. “It’s about people.”

Collier-Wise said she couldn’t agree more.

The original budget is $150,000 a year. It’s able to afford a doctor who speaks English, though, because that salary will be paid with separate donations. Nesselhuf is looking for that doctor.

The doctor needs to speak English to communicate with American doctors. But Spanish is the first step for many of the children at the orphanage.

Nesselhuf touched on Diego, a young Guatemalan boy, who wanted to learn Spanish, English and interest of being a doctor someday.

She is confident that one day, Diego will be a doctor. The boy is now fluent in these languages and is one of the many lives that have been touched by the organization.

“You’re here on earth for a reason,” Nesselhuf said. “To make it a better place when you leave.”

Clinton HQ, Round 2

3:34 p.m. CDT, Barnes & Noble, Sioux Falls

I received a call saying Clinton may suspend her presidential bid this evening. With anxiety, excitement and anticipation, I made plans to be dropped off yet again at Clinton headquarters.

I was much more nervous about another run-in with Gilfillan but excited about the prospect of setting the record straight. I walked into the headquarters, and he noticed me immediately. He came to me, and our conversation was brief.

I said I had one more question and asked if the senator would be suspending her campaign. Diplomatic as always, Gilfillan simply shook his head. To clarify, I asked him if he were implying no comment. He said “not true.”

About two seconds later, I got the feeling that if I didn’t leave quickly, I would be asked to leave more forcefully. I thanked him for his time and walked out of the office.

—Jamie Hughes, American Indian Journalism Institute

Clinton HQ, Round 1

12:40 p.m., CDT, Sioux Falls

Brendan Gilfillan, the Clinton campaign’s press secretary at headquarters here, presents himself as a force to be reckoned with, but I soldiered on to pursue what is the arguably most sought-after story of the day—whither the Hillary Clinton presidential bid.

As most of America knows, Barack Obama has all but clinched the Democratic nomination as Hillary keeps dragging through the bushes with so-so success. When I initially contacted Gilfillan, he told me that he would contact me later that evening about goings-on throughout the day today but that the headquarters would be off-limits. Since he never returned my phone calls last night or this morning, I was dropped off at headquarters at about 9:34 a.m. today.

Gilfillan was not in, so I spoke outside with volunteers as they floated in and out, some looking none too happy. Then Gilfillan told me in person that I was not allowed to interview volunteers.

But to his dismay, I found Rodney Gist, 81, who was kind enough to talk to the journalist being given the cold shoulder. Gist said he supports Clinton because he doesn’t want the United States to “spend more than it makes.” He said he would be leaving $30,000 worth of debt to his children and grandchildren. He said that definitely didn’t feel good.

Later, I asked a Clinton paid staff member if I could ask her a few questions. Apparently, that was a mistake because a few minutes later, here came Gilfillan. I wasn’t exactly kicked out or even asked to leave, but he told me that he couldn’t have me bothering the volunteers and campaign workers.

As of now, I haven’t had another run-in with Gilfillan, but I’m sure this hasn’t ended.

—Jamie Hughes, American Indian Journalism Institute

Crossing Over

11:30 a.m. CDT, Sioux Falls

Obama headquarters seemed like a quiet and calm place when I arrived to speak with volunteers.

Matt Lehrich, Obama’s press secretary for the Sioux Falls headquarters, was pleasant when he invited a video crew and me into the headquarters. Understandably, he politely asked us to get the information we needed and get on with our day.

Most volunteers were on the phone making sure that citizens knew where to vote, had a way of getting there and, if they had finished, for whom they had voted.

Terry Peters, 56, is a registered Republican volunteering for Obama.  She said the senator was the only candidate she feels makes sense.

“I like what he’s saying,” she said. She also said she feels as if the senator is speaking from the heart.

Peters’ daughter, Emily, is a registered Democrat also volunteering for Obama. Emily said jokingly that she had helped her mother cross over to the other side.

Today is mom’s first and only day volunteering for Obama. She said she thinks the economy is an issue hitting the country, and herself, the hardest.

—Jamie Hughes, American Indian Journalism Institute

One Man’s Opinion

1:57 p.m. CDT: Black Sheep Coffee Shop, Sioux Falls

One man stood out to me as an interview prospect. His table was less than 10 feet from mine. I walked up to him, requested an interview, and he agreed, though hesitantly. His birth name is James Starkey, but he goes by Wanbli WiWohkpe, a Lakota name.

WiWohkpe believes that America has many pressing issues.

“This anomaly of a country is a toddler running amok in the nations,” he said. “It’s time for us to start asking questions and representing.”

WiWohkpe believes that sovereignty and freedom have been ignored and that illegal immigration is indigenous people migrating. He believes that Russell Means should be the president of the United States.

“I will reject all American candidates and put in my own,” WiWohkpe said. “It has nothing to do with shutting down the white man.”

WiWohkpe thinks John McCain and Barack Obama represent the old guard. He said Americans are willing to vote for a person of color as long as he talks like them.

“We’re fighting against assimilation,” WiWohkpe said. “They’re all cooked from the same cloth.”

I was starting to believe this man did not like the presidential candidates, and then he closed with this:

“The Republicans say they’re going to rape us, while the Democrats just say they will use their thumbs.”

I guess not everyone has to agree with the candidates. This is America, after all.

—M.J. Casiano, American Indian Journalism Institute

Starting With the Two Daves

1:09 p.m. CDT, Sioux Falls:

After a voyage to find the office of Sioux Falls Mayor Dave Munson, we received a warm welcome. David Kranz, a well-known political reporter for the Argus Leader, gave me a firm handshake and welcomed me into the conference room.

Jim Cheeseman, multimedia news editor at the Argus Leader, asked instructor Kelly and me to sit awkwardly close together for camera closeup check. He has one of the thickest New Jersey/New York accents I’ve ever heard, and it recalled bad memories from the Bronx. Those stories are for
another time, though. There we sat for the next 15 minutes waiting for the mayor and discussed politics with a man of much knowledge. Conversing with Kranz is like watching CNN or Fox News.

In came Munson, and the two Daves immediately began their interview as the camera started rolling. I kid you not—it was on the south side of four minutes, and important topics were covered.

South Dakota is receiving more attention than originally predicted because of the presidential primaries.

“The focus has really come to South Dakota, and Montana, too,” Munson said.

Lastly, the two discussed how information is found and viewed in
today’s society. Basically, they admitted to being cell phone addicts,
something they never thought would happen to themselves. They
said some phones are like computers and that information is starting to
lean in that direction.

“Young people aren’t going to read the newspaper,” Munson said.” They can just get it on their phones.”

Speaking from experience, teenagers do find it extremely difficult to
live without cell phones. Quite frequently, I find myself looking up
stats and scores on my phone. Ultimately, the Internet will only expand
its usage from the cellular phone.

“These kids can access the world,” Munson said.

—M.J. Casiano, American Indian Journalism Institute