The South Dakota Community Foundation (SDCF) recently awarded a $10,000 South Dakota Fund grant to Aberdeen Step Up Ministries. Funding will assist in funding two homes that provide temporary shelter and transitional support services for homeless individuals in the Aberdeen area.
“Aberdeen Step Up Ministries is so very grateful to the South Dakota Community Foundation for the generous grant,” said Alton Vilhauer, President and Board chair, Aberdeen Step Up Ministries. “As is across our nation, homelessness, and the needs associated, continue to grow in our communities. Thanks to your gift, Aberdeen Step Up Ministries will be able to continue to grow to meet these needs, to walk alongside these who suffer and provide a hand up (or a step up). We are now able to continue to provide temporary and transitional shelter and connect people with community resources. We are truly making a positive difference in our community, thanks to the South Dakota Community Foundation.”
Aberdeen Step Up Ministries (ASUM) was founded when a local pastor asked friends and colleagues to “step up” and help solve the issue of under met needs in the city of Aberdeen. Many of the individuals released from the local jail had nowhere to go and the city had very few places that could provide enough services to make a sustainable difference. ASUM works to remove the barrier of shelter and help individuals with the peace of mind to focus on rebuilding the ability to support themselves. Under their mission, ASUM has been able to assist over 50 individuals in need in underserved areas by providing them with the resources and community connections they need to live and thrive independently and to remove barriers to successfully accomplishing these goals.
“We are proud to partner with Aberdeen Step Up Ministries to help tackle the issues surrounding the homeless,” says Ginger Niemann, SDCF Senior Program Officer. “By helping those in a time of need to remove barriers and provide community support, we are helping to create a stronger future for South Dakota.”
SDCF is a public non-profit organization established in 1987. SDCF, with offices in Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls and Aberdeen administers 1,200 funds benefiting hundreds of charitable organizations annually. The Foundation distributed nearly $31 million in grants in 2023 which made a tremendous difference in communities statewide. This would not have been possible without the generosity of our donors. If you have a specific cause you would like to support or would prefer to give for the general good of our state, please visit https://sdcommunityfoundation.org/giving to learn more or call 1-800-888-1842.