South Dakota Community Foundation Awards $20,000 Grant to Volunteers of America Northern Rockies

Pierre, S.D. – South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) has awarded a $20,000 South Dakota Fund grant to Volunteers of America Northern Rockies (VOA) to support the salaries of key staff members working within their Black Hills Community Outreach Program (BHCOP) in Rapid City.

As homelessness continues to rise in the Black Hills region, up 33% over the past five years, programs like BHCOP are more important than ever. This comprehensive outreach initiative serves individuals and families experiencing housing insecurity through a wide range of wraparound services. These include Mommy’s Closet, which provides essential supplies and case management to families with young children; South Dakota Housing Assistance, which offers emergency shelter and rehousing support; a local food pantry; and coordination with the Black Hills Regional Homeless Coalition, a 40+ member collaboration dedicated to ending homelessness in western South Dakota.

“Volunteers of America Northern Rockies provides essential support for western South Dakotans working toward stability,” said Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “This grant will help ensure their team can continue to meet the growing need in the region with compassion and consistency.”

In Fiscal Year 2023, BHCOP served more than 5,700 clients, including over 2,500 children under the age of five, and distributed over 50,000 diapers, 782 food bags, and 258 instances of homelessness assistance. With anticipated increases in demand and the sunset of several federal funding sources, the grant from SDCF will help VOA continue to deliver these life-changing services to an estimated 2,000 households in the coming year.

"Diaper Awareness Week shines a light on a silent struggle faced by many families in our community. The National Diaper Bank Network reports that 1 in 2 U.S. families with young children cannot afford enough diapers to keep their infants clean, dry, and healthy. With the funds raised, we will be able to provide diapers for nine months to families in need across our community, ensuring that no child goes without this basic necessity. Together, we can support families in maintaining their children's health and wellbeing during these critical early years said Kelly Folsom, Advancement Director, VOA Northern Rockies”.

To learn more about funding opportunities through SDCF, visit SDCommunityFoundation.org.