How donors in De Smet are bringing big projects to little town on the prairie
Even though it happened more than a decade ago, Rita Anderson can still recall the worry she felt as all her hard work, planning and fundraising to build a community and event center in De Smet appeared to be fizzling out at the very…
In De Smet, South Dakota, a community center once on the brink of collapse due to funding issues has now become a symbol of local resilience and generosity. Over a decade ago, Rita Anderson, then the director of the De Smet Economic Development Corp., found herself facing a significant setback as her fundraising efforts fell short by just $17,000.
Despite this, the center, which includes a senior center, theater, kitchen, workout room, meeting spaces, and a high school football field, was ultimately approved with the last-minute contributions of $10,000 from Warne's Appliance store and $7,000 from local cattle rancher Todd Wilkinson. This successful outcome is not an isolated incident but part of a broader pattern of community support.
Over the past 15 years, residents and business owners have raised more than $15 million through private donations for various projects in De Smet, a town of just 1,100 people.
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- How donors in De Smet are bringing big projects to little town on the prairie winnipegfreepress.com
