IMPACT
in Rapid City
Your Generosity in Action
Thanks to your support, United Way of the Black Hills is proud to share real stories — told in the words of our partners — that show how your generosity is making a difference every day.
Black Hills Works Inc.
Sam is 65 years old. In his many years with Black Hills Works, he has accomplished a great deal and reached many goals. One of those goals is living on his own in an apartment in Rapid City without a roommate and working independently.
Sam does not drive or have the income to afford a car. Sam used to ride his bike to work, but it’s a long way from his westside affordable housing apartment to the Rapid City Schools bus building on Campbell Street and there are many stretches along the way that are not safe for bicycle travel.
Being able to take Rapid Ride means that he can make it to work safely no matter the weather or time of year and without as much potential for injury as he would if riding his bike that far. He doesn’t have family that could otherwise take him to work and Black Hills Works’ internal transportation system currently only serves our group homes.
Public transportation has made it possible for Sam to get to work easily and safely. Sam has been working independently doing custodial work at the bus building for several years. His employment support team from Black Hills Works only needs to check in with him once a month.
Sam is very valued at his job and is spoken of very highly by his supervisor. Sam’s success is in large part due to having reliable, affordable public transportation to a job that he enjoys and excels at, where he can contribute and belong.
Black Hills Works wants to ensure that Sam’s employment success, and the employment success of many other individuals with disabilities, is not brought to a halt due to income restrictions and inflation. United Way’s grants to Black Hills Works to provide matching bus fare for employment transportation has played an important role in Sam’s success. Thank you!
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!