It started with a small group of new members who at the inaugural meeting on December 10th decided to share their talent and passion by scheduling one service project per month. In the first three months, they surpassed their goal and participated in six events.
The club, Advocates in Action, meets formally at the Park Restaurant in Rapid City on the second Tuesday of the month at 5:30 pm and is co-chaired by Lisa Ficek and Leah Zandstra.
The members have a remarkable level of enthusiasm and energy. They helped get the new location of the Black Hills Center for Aging ready for their grand opening by
assembling furniture and painting over several weekends in December and January. Several members showed up to work at the Storybook Island Nights of Lights in
December. More participated in a Bowl Painting event on February 22 to support the upcoming Volunteers of America Empty Bowl Event on March 27, where the Advocates in Action will also be helping with set-up, children’s activities, serving soup, and clean-up. In a pop-up event, co-chair Lisa Ficek passed the hat at a recent weekly meeting of the Rapid City Rotary club and collected over $200 for Project Period, which provides menstrual supplies, clean underwear, and clean leggings for disadvantaged girls in Rapid City’s public middle and high schools.
assembling furniture and painting over several weekends in December and January. Several members showed up to work at the Storybook Island Nights of Lights in
December. More participated in a Bowl Painting event on February 22 to support the upcoming Volunteers of America Empty Bowl Event on March 27, where the Advocates in Action will also be helping with set-up, children’s activities, serving soup, and clean-up. In a pop-up event, co-chair Lisa Ficek passed the hat at a recent weekly meeting of the Rapid City Rotary club and collected over $200 for Project Period, which provides menstrual supplies, clean underwear, and clean leggings for disadvantaged girls in Rapid City’s public middle and high schools.
Upcoming events include a dinner on March 18 to support Ukrainian refugees living in the region, the Kids’ Fair on April 4-5, and a project in April with WAVI, a local women’s shelter. In May, the Advocates in Action will help the host club with their Black Hills Works raised garden bed project and a Habitat for Humanity Women Build event. Word is spreading about the volunteer opportunities available to members of the club and we anticipate more members will add to the club’s momentum in the months ahead.