BROOKINGS – Brookings Mayor Keith Corbett has proclaimed Nov. 12-18 as Brookings Week of Giving, and Gov. Dennis Daugaard signed an executive proclamation designating the week of Nov. 19-25 as South Dakota Week of Giving. 

“Brookings has been and continues to be blessed with so many that give of their time, talent and for some, their treasures. This is a reminder that we all have something to give,” Corbett said in an e-mail. 

“The goal of this initiative is to acknowledge all of the wonderful people, programs, local charitable and faith organizations in our communities and remind the public of the importance of giving. Even small acts of giving make our communities better,” said a release from Daugaard’s office.

Sarah Meusburger of Brookings led the push for both proclamations, which are new designations in the city and state.

“I’m ecstatic about the support from both Mayor Corbett and Governor Daugaard. This is an all-around great initiative, and I hope South Dakota residents will take the time to identify the causes that are most important to them and find a way to help out,” Meusburger said in a release.

If anyone would like to help, but needs some assistance in finding a worthy cause to their liking, Sarah Lippert and Heidi Gullickson are happy to help.

Lippert is the Brookings Volunteer Connections coordinator for the Helpline Center, and Gullickson is the director of the Brookings Area United Way, two organizations that rely on volunteers.

“I do understand that this community gets tapped to be involved in a lot of things, but people step up and they get involved and they give of their time and of their items and of their money. That’s what continues to keep Brookings such a great place,” Gullickson said.

“As non-profits, we are very, very appreciative and we want to celebrate the giving that does happen during this week as well,” she added.

Many ways to help

The Helpline Center has three primary programs, Lippert said. The 211 program is for anyone needing general information. The Helpline also answers the National Suicide Hotline number and coordinates the Volunteer Connections, which allows non-profit agencies within the community to put volunteer opportunities on Helpline’s database. Folks can go online at volunteer.helplinecenter.org to see the list of the organizations and their needs.

There are around 50 agencies listed on the database, they said. An organization does not have to be a United Way member to be listed. Some agencies post periodically as they have a need; others are always looking for volunteers.

“So, an agency could go and create a volunteer opportunity on the database that allows people in the community that are looking to volunteer to go on and connect directly with the agency,” Lippert said.

For those who prefer to do things face-to-face, they can also check out the organizations that way, she added.

People can do this when it fits into their schedule and they don’t have to wait until their favorite organization is open, said Gullickson.

“The nice thing about the volunteer connections database is it’s there 24/7,” she said. “When we did the Unite and Fight events, we had people signing up to volunteer at 1 o’clock in the morning, which was awesome, it was exciting to us.”

“There’s so many volunteer opportunities in our community alone that it can be a little bit overwhelming,” Gullickson said, “so just having that database and be able to kind of peruse it, is a nice thing because there might be something on there and they say, ‘Oh, I didn’t even realize that would be an opportunity; I’m interested in that.’”

“I think once they figure out the simplicity of it and how well it works, they’ll continue to use the database,” Lippert said.

For those who don’t have computers, or have specific questions, they can call 211, ask for Brookings Volunteer Connections and Sarah Lippert, and the call center will direct the call to her. 

“During the Week of Giving, I think, our hope is just to bring awareness to the Helpline Center database. Volunteer Connections is an option for people to find ways to give of their time, so we’ve encouraged all of our organizations to make sure their information is out there and that it’s updated and then Sarah does a great job of helping to coordinate all of that,” Gullickson said.

All kinds of help needed

The Helpline Center is more for volunteer opportunities, Lippert said, but some volunteers discover the organizations’ physical needs while they are helping.

“It opens the avenues for making those donations,” she said. “There are places that will always need tangible donations, but from what we’ve been hearing, a lot of places need bodies. Time is invaluable.”

For those who have the means, Lippert and Gullickson compiled a list of physical things the organizations need. A lot of the time, it’s basic items that most people don’t think twice about, but when you don’t have them, that can be a “barrier,” Gullickson said.

Items can be dropped off at the United Way, which will see the items get to the right organization, Gullickson said. It is located at 619 Fifth Ave. in Brookings.

“Not all these programs have a location to drop off,” she said.

The ones that do have a physical place sometimes are open only limited hours, making it difficult for people who have work schedules to get there or to coordinate all their giving at the same time. 

“I would just like to stress that if they want to (donate) tangible items, we are here for them to drop it off, so they don’t feel as if they need to run around to five different places,” Lippert said.

Lots of benefits

Lippert and Gullickson know the organizations benefit, but they say the volunteers get something out of it, too.

“I think it’s a team-building thing, honestly. If you want to create this community aspect; well, then your community needs to get involved,” Lippert said, adding it can become a “lifelong thing” where they keep coming back.

“There is a kind of warm and fuzzy that you get from volunteering and giving time. I think it opens people’s eyes to the needs that are within their own backyard. I think it’s easy to get sucked into what’s happening everywhere else that we forget what’s happening right here,” Lippert said.

“Sometimes those larger picture things, you start to feel like you can’t control anything. But locally, you can,” Gullickson said.

She likes to see all the groups that volunteer from businesses, churches and civic organizations.

“It can become a social aspect, as well,” Gullickson said.

Families can even turn a trip to the grocery store into a learning experience.

“You say, ‘You know what, let’s get some extra food and be able to drop it off at the Food Pantry’ and have the kids help pick out those items that they think other kids might enjoy,” Gullickson said.

“Brookings has that long history of being a giving community and so it is something that they model,” she said. “I think for the children to grow up seeing it, as well; not only are we helping each other right now, but really we’re even preparing the future generations to continue that work.”

Contact Jodelle Greiner at jgreiner@brookingsregister.com.