So many clubs only think that their largest fundraisers and biggest service projects are worth promoting. However, after receiving the November newsletter from the Minnehaha Sertoma Club, I was reminded about the importance of celebrating the smaller and seemingly mundane projects that we do all year along.
For us at HQ, it’s the daily grind of processing hearing aid donations or attending local nonprofit meetings to get the word out about Sertoma in Kansas City. For the women of the Minnehaha Sertoma Club, their activities focus on meeting the needs of underserved populations in their communities and supporting life-changing hearing health causes. I was moved by these little acts of service, and believe that, like little life victories, they deserved to be highlighted as great acts of service.
In late October, two Minnehaha Sertomans were part of the Deaf Awareness Carnival. More than 250 attendees visited the club’s booth and participated in fun activities and tasty treats. The best part? Proceeds went to benefit an organization supported by clubs in the Great Plains Region, Camp UBU.
The Minnehaha club has found an easy, effective and most importantly, beneficial way to help cover transportation costs for many nonprofits in their community. The club gave four different organization Kwikstar gift cards to help support the needs of the charity and those they serve. Recipients included the Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Home Shelter, Home Visitation and Food to You.
The club will soon continue its service by helping to serve a meal to individuals at the St. Francis House. This organization helps provide a safe place to stay for unhoused individuals in the Sioux Falls community. Guests at the home also have access to additional resources that will help them be successful moving forward including transportation, employment assistance, life skills training, addiction support meetings and more.
Funding these projects is led through many projects spearheaded by the Minnehaha women. This includes their Minnehaha Sertoma Annual Auction, which always includes a plethora of beautiful gift baskets and a delicious dinner. The club also regularly buses tables at a local Pizza Ranch location and receives funding back for their efforts.
The Minnehaha Sertoma Club was established in August 1999. Led by Club President Sheila Reding, the club is devoted to providing Service to Mankind to the Sioux Falls, South Dakota, community.