Dear Editor,
No doubt you have heard of the great losses suffered West River due to the unseasonal blizzard earlier this month. The loss of livestock, as well as damage to property, is devastating to our family, friends and neighbors West River. While we may not physically be on location to assist, there are ways we can still help.
Avera is reaching out to its employees and community partners in an effort to help direct financial contributions to the Rancher Relief Fund that has been set up to help our livestock producers. The Rancher Relief Fund has been recognized by the Governor as a valuable tool in providing assistance to those who lost so much. The fund is a cooperative effort of the South Dakota Cattlemen’s Association, the Stockgrowers Association, the Sheep Growers Association and the Black Hills Area Community Foundation.
If you can make a financial contribution of $25, $50, $100, $500 or whatever size you are most comfortable with, please do so. Avera will match the first $10,000 that is raised through this effort.
Donations can be made with cash, check or credit/debit card. Checks can be made payable to Avera Foundation and sent to 212 E. 11th Street, Suite 100, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.
You may also make a gift in person at your local Avera Foundation Office (Weskota Foundation located at Avera Weskota Memorial Hospital in Wessington Springs) and we will direct it to Avera Foundation’s main office to distribute to the Rancher Relief Fund.
If you prefer to make your gift via credit card, please visit www.Avera.org/ranchers. This link will bring you directly to the “Donate On-line” page. Please complete the information on this page, select Area of Greatest Need as the program area for your gift. Then, under commemorative gifts section, please enter the note West River.
If you have any questions, please call Kristi Hine, Weskota Foundation Coordinator at 539-1201 or email Kristi.hine@avera.org
Your gift and prayers are very important as the impact of this disaster will be felt across our state for a very long time.
Kristi Hine
Marketing/
Foundation
Coordinator
Avera Weskota
Memorial Hospital
Wessington Springs