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.
Prairie Hills Transit
Life can change in an instant and the changes can leave a wife, husband, brother or sister unable to find ways to meet transportation services for their loved one.
In one recent situation a gentleman receiving dialysis three times per week suffered a stroke and required 24-hour care. The facility he became a resident of did not offer transportation services for the early morning care time he needed. A call was made to Prairie Hills Transit (PHT) and arrangements were made to pick him up at 6:00 am for his 6:15 am chair time. He is picked up again from dialysis at 11:00 am to go back to the 24-hour care facility.
This was a huge relief for his spouse who was unable to physically care for him and didn’t have a ramp-equipped vehicle. This means he is able to sustain a quality of life with personal independence that doesn’t require his wife to try to meet this very difficult transportation need.
In addition to this personal story, PHT provides contractual services for several of the large healthcare entities to allow people discharge transportation for hospitals or care facilities and transportation between facilities for appointments.
In 2025, PHT is in the process of constructing a transportation garage and maintenance/wash bay that will hold 6 ramp-equipped ADA vans. This is a wonderful improvement that will keep the vans out of the weather and the severe elements of the heat/cold in South Dakota.
After 10 years of service in Rapid City and having vehicles parked outside, it means a huge improvement to protect vehicles, wash the vehicles and provide routine maintenance in the Rapid City location. The building is scheduled for completion in 2025 and will be partially funded with Federal funding as well as a significant amount of funding provided by PHT.
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!