IMPACT
in the Southern Hills
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.
American Red Cross
In late November 2024, ARC got a call from a client who had been living in a trailer in Custer County. The client was a ranch hand who lived on the property where they worked, and their trailer had a fire completely destroying the trailer.
The client and their dog made it out safely but lost all their possessions. ARC volunteers helped to meet with the client within a few hours and provided him financial assistance to have a warm place to be for a few days and connected his dog with a few days’ supply of food.
The client was very distraught from the fire and was experiencing a mental health crisis, feeling very trapped and down from the loss. ARC mental health case workers were able talk with the client and hear his concerns, listening to understand and making a plan.
They helped to brainstorm ways he could replace the lost trailer and assisted financially to purchase a new trailer when the client found a replacement. The client felt hopeful and thankful for the assistance, not only in the recovery of a stable living situation, but also for the help making a plan and talking through the post-disaster mental burden.
Thanks to generous donors like you, United Way of the Black Hills is able to make stories like this possible!