Picnic in the Park is a weekly event that offers food to people who are homeless in Rapid City. It started as a grassroots effort two years ago and recently became a non-profit.
The weekly feed called Picnic in the Park takes place in Memorial Park. Loyd Big Crow Sr. is the founder. He says it’s a centralized meeting area for people who are homeless.
“We started with water one week and then the next it water chips. Then the next week it was water, chips and a sandwich. And then from then it just kind of got bigger and bigger to where we got more community members involved.”
Big Crow says as the event got more traction in the community, their mission evolved.
“The mission at the time, we were turning away people that were intoxicated or high or drunk. We realized that they still had to eat. Plus it gave us a chance to help talk to the people, let them know that they’re not alone. Let them know that we see them.”
Now Picnic in the Park feeds about 150 people each week and preparing these events is a lot of work.
Big Crow says about five people each week donate food, supplies, toiletries or blankets and nearly 15 volunteers help pass things out. The feed recently became non-profit.
“It’s Oyate Kin Chante Wastepi and in English that translates to People With Good Hearts.”
Big Crow says the event outgrew its grass-roots beginnings.
"It’s kind of something I was trying not to shoot for but it’ll be easier on all of us too as the volunteers because we do spend a lot out of our pockets and we feel like we can do a lot more as a non-profit status.”
Big Crow says he hopes to apply for grants to make sure the project is sustainable.