Nonprofit launches NeeDoh auction, raffle to benefit new therapy program

A viral toy sensation is helping raise funds as a Sioux Falls nonprofit launches a therapy assistance program.

Live Inspired 365 is a nonprofit founded in 2022 by Chantelle Friedman and Michelle Thie to promote mental health awareness and suicide prevention.

It uses proceeds from its gift shop at 3701 W. 49th St. to fund the mission. While the store has carried NeeDoh and other squishy items for the past couple of years, the viral toy trend has brought many new visitors in recent months.

“The NeeDohs have brought in a ton of traffic,” Friedman said. “They come in for the NeeDoh … and they say, ‘You guys are so much more than a gift shop.’ And they realize there’s a lot of positive messages. They’re opening up about struggles they have had or people they have lost to mental illness.”

Like nearly all retailers, the store has not been able to fulfill demand for NeeDoh as shipments are small, scarce and sold nearly as soon as they arrive.

But Live Inspired 365 has put together two bundles of NeeDohs and is leveraging them to further support the mission.

Each has more than 25 pieces, including some rare and retired ones, “and we keep adding to it,” Friedman said. “We keep adding to it, and we’ve even had people donate NeeDohs they found out hunting and they want to help somehow. So people are getting involved, and it’s fun and exciting.”

A raffle will award one bundle, with one ticket for $5 or five tickets for $20.

A silent auction will award the other to the highest bidder.

Text Hope365 to 76278 to buy raffle tickets or register to bid. The deadline for both is June 30.

Proceeds will be used to support the launch of Live Inspired 365’s therapy assistance program called Inspiring Hope.

“We knew it was a good way to get people talking about mental health and a fun way to celebrate and spread the word quicker with NeeDohs so hot. We knew we could spread the word.”

The program allows people experiencing financial hardship to receive assistance when they work with an independent mental health therapist. The nonprofit will pay for up to eight sessions directly to the therapist.

“We’re hearing a lot of people trying to decide, ‘I got put on a new blood pressure medication, and I can’t afford my therapy and medication.’ And we know you need both,” Friedman said. “Now is not the time to quit therapy. We believe in them and hope eight sessions gives them time to work through some things and figure out finances for the future, a payment plan with the therapist or whatever that may be.”

The approach also can help therapist burnout, she added.

“We’re finding the therapists are incredibly stressed because they’re having to tell people we can’t do free therapy,” she said. “Many offer sliding scales, but they need to keep the lights on too.”

Initial funding for the project came from this year’s The 437 Project, which donated a portion from the most recent run across South Dakota.

“It’s expensive, and we found therapists willing to get us started and get the kinks worked out, so we’re hoping to continue to expand it as we can, and a raffle is a fun way to kick it off.”

The ‘NeeDoh effect’: Huge demand for squishy toys drives crowds at local businesses