PIERRE — Prior to the food bank task force’s first fundraiser, members were hoping for exposure at the most. But after all the pancakes, sausage and coffee were put away Saturday at St. Joseph’s school, the task force had exposure and $1,340 to put away toward a food bank building. “It’s an awesome cause,” said Peggy Laurenz, who attended the pancake feed. “It’s something we really need in central South Dakota.”

About 150 people were served and all expenses were covered as Wal-Wart and Cheyenne Ridge donated most of the items for the feed.

Following the event, the task force discussed the status of funding a concept to put a Community Food Banks of South Dakota food bank in Pierre.

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The task force continues to pursue the Pepsi building, which comes with a $650,000 price tag. An appraisal was set to be complete by Nov. 20 but did not meet that deadline. Pepsi-Cola donated $1,200 for the appraisal and other task force funds were used.

The next meeting is set for 11 a.m. Dec. 7. The task force discussed a wine, hors d’oevre fundraiser in the new year.

A Web site has been set up at www.pierrefoodbank.com and after Saturday’s event there is approximately $2,500 in the food bank account. The task force hopes to have a Facebook page up as well.

“The more we talk to people the more ideas they get,” said Penny Kelley, task force member. “What we did today worked.”

Once a building is funded by the task force, operations will be controlled by the Community Food Banks of South Dakota, which has locations in Sioux Falls and Rapid City. No city dollars have been allocated to the project currently or are likely to in the future.

“To say one isn’t getting impatient would probably be an understatement,” said Matt Gassen, executive director of Community Food Banks of South Dakota. “You wish things would move along faster. At the same time, you have to realize all good things take a little time to make happen. Now that we’re going to focus our attention on one area I think it’s going to help move things along.”

Gassen said the work going into procuring a building in Pierre capable of distributing thousands of pounds of food throughout the region is unique to other South Dakota food bank projects.

“The facilities in Rapid City and Sioux Falls — they grew out of different kinds of organizations over many, many years to get to where they are today. We haven’t really started a food bank from the ground up, like we have this one. I don’t think there is any fool-proof way of doing business. You just work with what’s available and do the best you can. The task force is doing a yeoman’s portion of the work to make this come together.”

Gassen said he was encouraged by Saturday’s fundraiser.

“That is encouraging to me to see we’re getting that kind of support out of the community for a concept,” he said. “On paper, this is just a concept until we’re in a building and doing the work we want to.”

Once established, the food bank will receive thousands of pounds a week from Wal-Mart, but the bulk will come from the Community Food Banks of South Dakota.