Your week, simplified: Feb. 28, 2024

Megan Raposa -

Happy Wednesday! Megan here.

Weather check: Whiplash

Leap Day check: It only comes around once every four years – are you doing anything fun for Leap Day? I always think of this goofy song from an old "30 Rock" episode.

This week, it's a lot of news, but most of it is in a nice and easy "super simplified" format (my whole schtick, ya know!). I also have a helpful roundup from the lovely Makenzie Huber who found out where to donate all of the stuff you're looking to get rid of during spring cleaning. Plus, catch up on the local happenings in our weekly event guide.

And now, news:

COMMUNITY

Where to donate stuff as you're spring cleaning

Story by Makenzie Huber

Simplified: Moving? Spring cleaning? Kids growing too fast? Whatever the reason, 'tis the season for getting rid of extra stuff. And as they say, one person's trash is another's treasure, so here's a roundup of local organizations who can give your no-longer-needed items a second life.

Photo by Sarah Brown / Unsplash

Why it matters

  • You can donate all of your items at the nearest Goodwill or sell them to a consignment shop, but many local nonprofits give donated items directly to people or families who need them most for free.
  • This list comes from the Helpline Center, a 24-hour phone hotline and online statewide database for information and referrals for community services. That includes volunteer and donation opportunities, support groups, family planning assistance, child care options, and suicide prevention and support.

A note:

  • Some organizations on this list ask that you call before dropping items off, so check with the Helpline Center or call the organizations directly to check.
  • The list does not include items in need that were labeled “new” — except for hygiene items — since this round-up focuses on second-hand donations.
  • Clothes or fabric too worn out to donate? Turn them into shingles at the Union Gospel Mission.

Where can I donate stuff?

Here's a run down from clothes to technology to office supplies to laundry detergent.

TL;DR

Super Simplified Stories

  • Candidates are in. There are officially eight people vying for four open seats on the Sioux Falls City Council in the April 9 election. Two of those seats are unopposed, with only Ryan Spellerberg running in the southwest district and only Jennifer Sigette in the northwest district. The other two races are more hotly contested with three candidates each. That includes Miranda Basye, Neil Jeske and David Zokaites fighting it out for the northeast district, and the at-large seat will be a battle between Jordan Deffenbaugh, Richard Thomason and Allison Renville. You'll meet all of them here in the weeks to come.
  • 💕 Pink is coming. Not the color, the musician. P!NK will perform at the Denny Sanford Premier Center in October as part of the 10th anniversary celebration for the venue. Tickets go on sale starting 10 a.m. Friday (and appear to start at $157). More details here.
  • Sioux Falls names teacher of the year. Susan Thies, a fifth grade teacher at Garfield Elementary was named the 2024 John W. Harris Teacher of the Year earlier this week. Thies is in her 24th year of teaching with the district, most of that time at Garfield with a decade-long stint at Hawthorne Elementary. Nominators described Thies as a "master teacher," a "wise leader" and a "strong team player."

More Simplified Stories

  • Student-built housing. Habitat for Humanity of the Greater Sioux Falls will be celebrating the dedication of two homes built in partnership with local students at both the Career and Technical Education Academy and Southeast Technical College. It's the 12th home built by CTE students and the second from Southeast Tech. The home dedications will take place at 12 p.m. on Friday, March 1 at 1708 E. 71st Street N. in Sioux Falls.
  • Meet this year's 30 under 30. SiouxFalls.Business and Marketbeat have once again teamed up to recognize 30 impressive young professionals under the age of 30 – and it's a list with some real heavy hitters. Meet the winners here.
  • Mash madness is on. It's burgers in January and beer in March. Downtown Sioux Falls' eighth annual Mash Madness kicks off Friday with six contenders offering everything from a pineapple IPA to a cranberry muffin sour. See the full list of brews here.
  • 🍦The ultimate harbinger of spring. Ok yeah, it was like 70 degrees on Monday, but the real sign that spring is here is B&G Milkyway opening. The local ice cream shop locations at Harmodon Park and at Cliff Avenue are set to open Friday. Find the full run-down here.

EVENTS

Stuff to do: Feb. 28-March 5

  • Phun with pheasants. It's Pheasant Fest weekend in Sioux Falls. The three-day show kicks off Friday at the Denny Sanford Premier Center. Check here for details on exhibits, vendors, hours and tickets. There's also a conservation concert featuring Trampled by Turtles at the Washington Pavilion Thursday evening. Details on that here.
  • See a brand new show. Augustana University is hosting the premiere of a brand new play, "This is My Body," written by Grace Ahles, Hanna Beshai and Richard W. Swanson. Performances run Thursday through Sunday. Details and tickets here.
  • Eat pancakes. It's National Pancake Day on Wednesday, and the Phillips Avenue Diner is celebrating by giving back. They're donating 10% of their proceeds to Swamp Daddy's Cajun Kitchen, another local restaurant that recently suffered damage to its entire restaurant. The diner is open 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. tomorrow.
  • Get jazzy. Augustana University's Northlanders jazz band will perform at 7:30 p.m. Monday at the Pavilion, and the Lincoln High jazz band will be their opener. Tickets here.
  • Recognize the rare. Rare by Design and the Coordination of Rare Diseases at Sanford (CoRDS) are teaming up to raise awareness for the rare disease community through an event from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the Falls Overlook Cafe. Details here.
  • Get artsy. Rose and Eugene Presents is hosting a printmaking workshop on Sunday. This weekend's class focuses specifically on stencils. Get the details and tickets here.

THIS AND THAT

What I'm falling for this week:

ICYMI

More Simplified Stories

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City Council shares early draft of childcare priorities
Members of the Sioux Falls City Council’s regulatory oversight committee on Tuesday shared a draft list of six priorities related to how the city can help address the ongoing childcare crisis.
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Reach out

What story do you want to see simplified? Falling for something local? Send any news tips, attaboys, missed typos or more of that 70-degree weather to megan@sfsimplified.com.

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