Annual LSS Week of Giving includes major matching funds, chance to help change lives

This event listing is sponsored by LSS of South Dakota.

A week dedicated to generosity is returning with a goal of bringing the community together to support neighbors across South Dakota.

From now through April 26, LSS of South Dakota is hosting its annual Week of Giving, now in its fifth year, inviting individuals and businesses to take part in an effort that leaders say is critical to meeting growing needs.

Community support “is essential,” president and CEO Rebecca Kiesow-Knudsen said. “Community giving is what allows us to respond quickly and compassionately to the needs across the state.”

While some might assume large donors or institutional funding drive the organization, Kiesow-Knudsen said the reality is much more grassroots.

“It’s people across our communities giving what they can, coming together and creating a real and lasting impact,” she said.

That impact comes to life through the stories of those served by LSS programs — and during the Week of Giving, those stories take center stage.

One example is the organization’s community gardens, which do far more than provide fresh food.

“We see it in something like the community gardens, where access to fresh food becomes a source of education, connection and health,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

The Week of Giving also highlights individual stories, including Keegan, a young person supported through LSS programs.

“We see it in young people in our residential programs, who have the support and stability they need to move forward and thrive,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

For families like Theresa Kashale’s, that support can be life-changing.

“We see it in families like Theresa Kashale’s, where the right support at the right time can change the trajectory of an entire household and have generational impact,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

“These are the moments donors make possible.”

This year, donors have an added incentive to give. LSS has secured $200,000 in matching funds, meaning every gift will be doubled, while gifts from new donors will be tripled.

“That’s an incredible opportunity to expand your impact right away,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

Additionally, Vern Eide and First PREMIER Bank/PREMIER Bankcard are serving as lead corporate sponsors for the year.

While financial gifts are the primary focus, the Week of Giving also is about helping people feel connected to the LSS mission.

“We invite people to engage through the stories,” she said. “That helps others see what’s possible and feel connected.”

For those looking to go a step further, mentoring opportunities also are available, offering a chance to build relationships that can have lasting impact.

“Those relationships can be life-changing over time,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

Funds raised during the week support programs centered around a simple but powerful idea: All people in South Dakota deserve to be healthy, safe and accepted.

“When we say healthy, we mean the whole person: physical, mental, emotional and spiritual,” she said.

Safety, she added, is about more than avoiding harm.

“It is the presence of trust and stability,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

And acceptance may be the most powerful part of that vision.

“It is about dignity and belonging — making sure every person is valued and worthy of respect.”

The Week of Giving has grown each year and also connects back to the organization’s beginnings. LSS was founded in 1920 and hosted a donation day the following spring, and today’s campaign continues that legacy.

“What’s powerful is that the spirit behind that first effort is the same today: neighbors stepping forward to care for neighbors,” Kiesow-Knudsen said.

For this Week of Giving, the message is simple: Every contribution matters.

“Every one of those stories starts when someone chooses to give,” Kiesow-Knudsen said. “You can be that someone.”

The official LSS Week of Giving is April 19–26, but you can donate now.

To make your contribution, start here.