South Dakota
Organizations join together to give back to South Dakota community
/cloudfront-us-east-1.images.arcpublishing.com/gray/54WWEXSYLZBNNI3MY3BP5N5P34.jpg "Organizations join together to give back to South Dakota community")
RAPID CITY, S.D. (KOTA) – According to 247wallstreet.com, South Dakota ranks 21st in homelessness in the United States with an estimated 1,058 people experiencing homelessness.
To combat these statistics, organizations in Rapid City are coming together to give back.
The Community Connect organizations, which were previously under the umbrella ‘Homeless Connect,’ come together twice a year to help anyone in need.
“It is about the community, and we all have times where we can use a hand, at different times in our life. So, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to be homeless, but we just think it’s important that we help our community,” said Jeanne McKenna, who works with Black Hills Special Services Corporative.
A few of the agencies at the event included Feeding South Dakota, Goodwill, Volunteers of America. People could also get things like a free STD test or a meal.
“We participate at almost every Community Connect event. We have a booth inside, and we like to bring our EDS canteen and feed the folks that come to the event,” said Angie Mason, volunteer and event coordinator with the Salvation Army.
“Families can come here and actually check with several agencies, get some bags of clothes for their kids, or some items that they need in a home, and do it all in one stop shopping,” added McKenna.
2022 saw a 30% increase in homelessness in South Dakota, and a reported 353 total people houseless in Rapid City.
For more information on Community Connect, you can click here.
Copyright 2023 KOTA. All rights reserved.
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) – If you’re driving to get to your destination this weekend, you’re in the majority. More cars are expected on South Dakota roads than last year, according to AAA.
This weekend is the official launch of the tourist season in South Dakota. At Yogi Bear’s Jellystone Campground just east of Sioux Falls, general manager Ray Aljets has everything in place, rain or shine.
“We’ll be ready with all the activities that we can pack into a weekend for people to have a good time. We’re ready to go,” Aljets said.
The price at the pump doesn’t affect the number of campers, but it does affect where they come from.
“When gas prices are high, you tend to see people who are closer to your location. When gas prices come down a little bit, you generally see some people who travel a greater distance to get to you,” Aljets explained.
Whether you’re fueling up your car or your RV, you’ll be saving more than last year, according to GasBuddy.
“Now, the average gas price in South Dakota has been inching down ahead of Memorial Day gas prices, down about four cents a gallon statewide. The average is about $2.93. That’s the lowest price we’ve seen since 2021,” said Patrick De Haan with Gas Buddy.
Some tips to find the best price: download an app to compare prices at the pump. That can save you up to 30 cents per gallon. Be sure to double-check prices in tourist areas, stations close to the interstate, or before leaving the state.
“You may cross into another state, and you can see gas prices either much higher or much lower,” De Haan said.
Here in South Dakota, we have it pretty good. In comparison, it’s up to five dollars a gallon in other places.
“All in all, the West Coast is the highest in the country: California, Hawaii, Washington, Oregon, and Nevada, all with some of the highest prices,” De Haan explained.
After checking gas prices, don’t forget to call 511 for road conditions, including construction detours, to make your trip as stress-free as possible.
“Whether you’re local or you’ve come from hundreds of miles, we’re going to put on a good time for you,” Aljets said.
The best time to travel is before noon every day this weekend, and the least amount of traffic on the road is expected to be on Saturday and Sunday.
Copyright 2025 Dakota News Now. All rights reserved.
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