Testimonials

In late June of 2024 there was a horrible storm in Potato Creek, Pine Ridge Reservation. Homes were damaged to the extent that some roofs had blown off completely. Light poles were destroyed and power was out for over three days. As a result, those families in Potato Creek lost all of their perishable food due to the loss of electricity. One day after the event, we called RF Buche asking for assistance ranging from food to air conditioning units. There was no hesitation and RF through his efforts of Team Buche Cares stepped in to provide essential food, air conditioning units, and other vital items while repairs were being made. We can’t thank RF and Team Buche Cares enough for helping our people. Wopila’

Thank you so much to the Buches Company for the generous grocery gift card we received while I am undergoing chemotherapy. A special thank you to Melanie in the Gregory store. The gift card provided obviously a financial relief to us but also was convenient for us because our son was able to use it to grab things we needed for meals or for quick things for himself while we were out of town. Each kindness we received is so appreciated and helped to make this journey somewhat easier.

As a Vietnam veteran, serving in Law Enforcement, I have over time not been able to keep in touch with my fellow veterans or brothers in blue with the exception of the last Wednesday of the month when I go to Buche’s to pick up my free tube of hamburger. On this day I am able to see my brothers in arms as well as my brothers in blue. Thank you to RF and Team Buche Cares not putting food on our table but having a day to see and visit with those that served. Pila Maya Pelo (Thank you) Mitakuye Oyasin ((We are all relatives)

RF Buche moved into town and demonstrated a way business can be on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The way reflects one of our values: generosity. Whether it be RF, the store or Team Buche Cares is always giving back in the form of discounts, food to veterans, donations to districts and people with jobs. This way is responsive too. You can usually find what you need at Buche Foods and a lot of times it beats driving long distances to find nutritious affordable food. I think the customer service is excellent and the staff are helpful and the store is very clean and up to date. I really like seeing friends and relatives there. I also appreciate that our homeless relatives , instead of being mistreated, are allowed to help out in exchange for a couple of dollars.

We have an incredible Volunteer Fire dept here in Wagner SD. One day at work, we had one of the firemen in the store. He was at the till with his groceries and his fire dept pager went off that there was a fire call that he needed to get to. I bagged up the gentleman’s groceries and said just go, I will take care of the bill. I think it is important to pay it forward when the opportunity presents itself and I never regret helping someone out when they need it most. It’s a great feeling to be able to do this, especially to someone who volunteers his free time to rush to the aid of a community member who is most in need.

In the winter of 2022 one of our Buche Foods team member’s daughter and family lost their home and belongings to a house fire. After discussing the misfortune with our store team, we decided to for-go our Christmas Party funds and instead send the funds to the family in need. The family used the money for food, clothes and toiletries for the family. The family consists of a mother, father and 8 children, so the need was great for this young family. We just wanted to be able to help in some way to make a terrible situation a little bit more bearable. I had team members make the comment that if anything like this ever happened to them, they would hope that someone would step in and help them in their time of need. In 2023 we had a team member from a different store location lose his home to a house fire. The gentleman was literally homeless, living in someone’s camper. He still managed to get to work and fulfill his duties at the store that he was employed at. I asked my manager if we could help out in anyway. She asked me what my thoughts or ideas were and we both came up with a plan, which was discussed with our entire team to donate our Christmas party funds to the team member who lost his home. I also was in the process of moving and getting rid of some furniture, so I offered him some pieces of furniture once he got a place to live. Helping others out is in the forefront of our company’s values and I though it only right to help out where help was needed.

In December of 2021 there were devasting tornadoes that ripped through Western Kentucky, causing so much damage and destruction to the community. So many people lost homes and belongings very close to the Christmas holiday. Our entire Wagner Buche Foods team decided as a group to for-go our Christmas Party funds and purchase Gift cards to send to the relief group in Western Kentucky for families to use to purchase Christmas gifts for their community’s children. Just as we have learned from Team Buche Cares, our team strives to put those in need first! We are always looking for ways to help others and felt people we didn’t even know was a worthwhile cause.

There was a house fire in Wagner which totally destroyed the home back in the mid 1990’s.  The couple lost everything they had.  There was no place to go other than the local motel who donated a week for them to stay.  Red Cross came in and donated another week.  RF Buche donated a month.  He called out of the blue and made the donation and didn’t want any publicity around it.  I asked him if he knew the couple and he said no.  I asked him why he was doing it and he said, because “it is the right thing to do!”

RF is a person that I have found to be a great businessman with a compassion to better serve the community. He is our huŋká which in Lakota means we have adopted him into our community. He has helped with so many events throughout the Pine Ridge Reservation. Team Buche Cares has helped with our Dialysis Patients with a gift cards for nutritional foods, a much need resource for them. Cancer Patients gets his full support at a time in need. I would like to say we are grateful for all of RF’s accomplishments and leadership in putting the customers first. Wóphila

GF Buche Company has been a staple in the Wagner, SD community for over 104 years. It has grown and is in its third generation of the Buche family. This proves the GF Buche Company is dedicated and cares for the communities it serves, and the people they serve. The Buche family has built a family business, instilling in the community that after that length of time, the customers are treated like their own family also. Over the years, they have kept up with the ever-changing life styles people are leading today, and keeping their prices competitive with other food chains from out of town, simply because they know not everyone can leave town for their everyday needs, or have transportation to get there. The Buche Company, and their dedicated team, work hard finding ways to help the community in which they serve without hesitation.

I want to give a big thank you to RF Buche and the non-profit that he has formed (teambuchecares.org) for all the support they have given the Gregory area residents which includes donating to the local food pantry, giving out scholarships to deserving senior high school graduates that may not be top in the class but still work hard to achieve success, helping deserving families, and many other causes that help our Gregory community. The support given by RF and the Buche Company to our Gregory Community has proven to be very helpful and it has helped make our community a better place to live in. Thanks again for your help and kindness,

I am extremely thankful the great partnership that we have with RF Buche so quiet in here for the past year and a half. As a community leader with a small amount of funding it is difficult to address every crisis, event or other. At a personal level, I am very fond of RF He is always available and considerate with different ways to help. He is open to ideas and suggestions to make his bond with all 9 communities stronger. Because of this dedication, the Districts have bridged somewhat of a gap to make sure the community needs are taken care of. I think that's has been lacking for so long. We have utilized catering services at the Wanblee location and his staff is always professional and eager to help. Of all the programs we work with RF on, the Youth Summer Food Program is probably the most challenging. 9 district locations across the reservation in a single day with enough food to make sure every child has something to eat. It is a HUGE task but very rewarding. The children and families have been grateful and pleased with the selections. I especially enjoy taking with our driver, Ed, who is one of the funniest guys I have ever met. Food scarcity on the reservation has always been an issue especially during the summer while school is out. I am so thankful for RF and his staff who expertly coordinate and are very hands on to make sure we have what is needed to take care of the Oyate.

RF Buche has always been there Lakota People. During the pandemic, RF and his employees was able to get us food right out to our district. He has a big heart with integrity. RF is a member of our community!

Since the Buche Company came to Pine Ridge Reservation, there has been a huge improvement in the quality of the groceries, the cleanliness of the store, and the choices made available to the Lakota people. RF worked with One Spirit and his staff to develop an area dedicated to the hygiene and household supplies that the people needed but could not purchase with EBT. In conjunction with One Spirit, he made these supplies available at a huge discount. He has helped us not only get the food we need for the food program which provides food through food pantries and the Suicide Prevention Program, but also to get at discount the appliances, garden equiptment, and tools needed for the programs on the Reservation. RF has demonstrated his deep respect for the Lakota people and for all Native Americans and frequently voices his passion to ensure that they are treated equally with all Americans. We at One Spirit share his passion for equality and are excited to work with him to see that goal realized.