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OUR GOOD DEEDS: Relief drive aims to help local veterans

The Rapid City Journal - 1/8/2017

The holidays may be over, but the need for relief for some area veterans is not.

South Dakota American Legion Auxiliary is partnering with Miss South Dakota 2015 Autumn Simunek to host the fifth annual Veterans' Holiday Relief Drive, and American Legion Auxiliary Unit 22 of Rapid City is asking locals to help.

The drive lasts through Jan. 30 and aims to provide a comfortable holiday season to our veterans, military members, and their families who may be homeless or in need.

People can create or contribute to Buddy Baskets and Buddy Bags filled with essential household or personal care items.

Monetary donations or shopping gift cards may be mailed to: S.D. American Legion Auxiliary, Attn: Vets Relief Drive - 129 N. Main Ave., Hartford, S.D. 57033; or American Legion Auxiliary Unit 22, Attn: Vets Relief Drive, 818 St. Patrick St., Rapid City, S.D. 57701.

The Rapid City drop-off location is American Legion Post 22, 818 E. St. Patrick St.

Statewide drop-off locations and additional information are available at: SDLegionaux.org, Autumn Simunek at VeteransHRD@gmail.com or 890-3093.

Fundraiser to support Humane Society of the Black Hills

SPEARFISH | Art and communications alumni from Black Hills State University are hosting an event to support the Humane Society of the Black Hills.

BHSU alumna Chris Yushta, Class of 2011, and Adam Roosa, Class of 2008, are hosting a "Whiskers and Wine" Fundraiser from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday at Firehouse Wine Cellars in Rapid City.

At the event, which will also feature live music by Elle Carpenter, patrons can bid on original, donated art items including photography and paintings.

Firehouse Wine Cellars will also donate a portion of that evening's sales to the Humane Society of the Black Hills.

A release from BHSU said the fundraiser was prompted by the Humane Society's recent intake of 76 neglected animals from a Creighton home.

To donate an art or other item for the silent auction, email chrisyushta@gmail.com.

Volunteers place 1,000 wreaths on veterans' graves

Pennington County 4-H members were among 75 volunteers who placed 1,000 wreaths on the graves of service members laid to rest at Black Hills National Cemetery as part of the Wreaths Across America Ceremony in December.

Pennington County 4-H partnered with the Sturgis Boy Scouts, Veterans of Foreign Wars Auxiliary and community members. All the wreaths were purchased by families of service members.

"Pierre Claeyssens said that to be killed in war is not the worst that can happen, to be lost at war is not the worst that can happen. The worst thing that can happen is to be forgotten, and so we're trying to remember and make sure that our fallen service men and women are honored during the holidays," said Matthew Olson, SDSU Extension 4-H Youth Program Adviser for Pennington County.

Local trust gives $16K to Lawrence County residents

The James E. Shea and Lillian E. Shea Charitable Trust contributed a total of $16,400 in 2016 to seven Lawrence County charities and eight residents with medical or disaster-related expenses, according to a release from the trust.

Charities that received contributions were Good Shepherd Clinic, Bella Pregnancy Resource Center, Teen Court, Lord's Cupboard, Twin City Animal Shelter, Lead-Deadwood Backpack Program and Adams Museum Endowment Fund.

Jim and Lillian Shea were lifelong residents and former business owners in Deadwood who long served the community as volunteers for civic, community and church organizations. In 1999, the Sheas established the trust to first provide financial assistance to residents of Lawrence County in need because of unforeseen emergencies and second to selected Lawrence County nonprofits if there were excess funds at the end of the trust year.

Two new mobile dental trucks to serve kids in SD

Two new mobile dental trucks hope to help kids across South Dakota get healthier smiles.

Delta Dental of South Dakota said in a release that it ordered the trucks for its mobile program, which provides dental care to children who can't afford or don't have access to a dentist. The vehicles will be used to treat kids starting this week.

"We found there's more need and greater demand than we anticipated when we started with our first truck 12 years ago," said Scott Jones, president and CEO. "Our current trucks have served well, but they're aging. It was time to replace them so we're prepared to care for kids for the next decade."

Kids in Lemmon and Newell will be the first patients on the trucks during clinics in the two towns this week. Both trucks will then spend approximately 40 weeks of the year traveling across the state.