There are so many amazing community groups, nonprofits and charitable organizations in the Black Hills. One of our favorite parts of living here is partnering with these groups to help our friends and neighbors. Whether that’s sponsoring an event, collecting warm winter clothing, or making sure children have food in their bellies, we’re so grateful for the work our friends are doing, and even more grateful to be part of their efforts.
Here’s what we’re part of so far this year. We’ve included links to the organizations if you’d like more information — more help is always needed!
Fall
Holiday drives
It is time for our annual holiday drive! Unlike previous years, we will not hold a raffle this year. This will minimize touch points and help our guests and employees stay safe during this pandemic.
But, we are still collecting items for area families, many of whom have been hit hard by COVID-19. Through One Warm Coat, Toys for Tots and Heat their Feet, we are collecting new and gently used winter weather apparel – coats, boots, hats, coats, gloves, etc. – and new/unwrapped toys/games. Youth & Family Services, Cornerstone Rescue Mission and rural schools will distribute the donations to local families. We have collection bins in the service departments of all three of our Rapid City stores (Denny Menholt Rapid Chevrolet, Denny Menholt Toyota and Rushmore Honda). You can also donate a dollar to go toward the fundraisers. As of Dec. 22, we had collected $61 for Drive Time! Just ask your service advisor the next time you’re in for a service appointment, and you can contribute as well. The drive goes until Jan. 9!
Thank you for your help!
Pajama drive
We hosted a new pajama drive this year, and our amazing employees and customers donated nearly 90 sets of pajamas for children enrolled in programming at Youth and Family Services. For the drive, we hung tags on the Christmas trees at each of our stores with information on the child in need. We were thrilled with the turnout, and look forward to continued partnerships. Thank you to everyone who participated!
Thanksgiving Dinners for local families
Denny Menholt Auto Group was proud to partner with Timmons Market and Youth & Family Services to provide over 400 dinners to provide Thanksgiving dinners for local families, but there are also ways you can help! You can support children and families in need by:
- Volunteering your time at YFS’ Gift Wrapping Booth in the Rushmore Mall
- Sponsoring a family in need for the holidays
- Making a monetary gift that will help provide year-round programming for children
For more information on how you can get involved, visit YFS online at www.youthandfamilyservices.org.
Summer
On Aug. 11, the 12th annual Paint the Rock Pink golf tournament once again drew pink-clad female golfers to Red Rock Golf Club in Rapid City.
Every year, the golf tournament raises funds for the Image Restoration program at Monument Health’s Cancer Care Institute. For this ladies-only tournament, two-person teams compete on the 18-hole course. Teams are also encouraged to decorate their golf carts; most teams choose a theme that highlights the purpose of the event: fighting breast cancer. Our auto group sponsored the Hole in One competition again this year, as well as a golf team. Hillary Dobbs-Davis and Krista Morrison participated as our team, and had a blast! Great job Monument Health on this fun event, and thanks to all the ladies who help raise money for a great cause!
On July 11, we were thrilled to meet Peydon on his Wish Day. Peydon hopes to be a computer programmer one day, so Make-A-Wish South Dakota granted his wish for a shopping spree at Best Buy and Game Stop. He came to Rapid City for a fun weekend with his mom, siblings and cousin. Their trip included a stop at our sister store, Denny Menholt Rapid Chevy, where he was greeted by guests and employees from Chevy, Rushmore Honda and Denny Menholt Toyota. It was so nice to meet you Peydon, and we hope you had an amazing day!
Rapid City Young Life had to cancel its banquet this year, but did still hold a golf tournament in August, and its Color Chaos event in September. (Photos courtesy of Rapid City Young Life)
Spring
Cornerstone Rescue Mission’s annual Cornerstone Celebrates banquet was March 7 at the Rushmore Plaza Holiday Inn.
As our community takes precautions to prevent the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19), most local community events and gatherings have been canceled or postponed during March, including:
- Rapid City Concert Association March 31 Sultans of String concert, postponed (no reschedule date yet announced)
- Youth & Family Services Kids Fair, postponed to Nov. 6-8
- Club for Boys corporate free-throw challenge, canceled
- Cruzers Rushmore Mall Car Show, postponed to Sept. 5
- Black Hills Area Council Boy Scouts of America Leadership Breakfast, postponed to May 14
We remain committed to helping our community however we can, and appreciate all the local leaders doing what they can to keep everyone safe and healthy. Many people are coming up with creative ways to hold virtual events – like the Black Hills FlyFishers hosting its annual auction entirely online. Way to go!
Winter
We closed out February with our Denny Menholt Employee Night on Feb. 29 (Leap Day!) at a Rapid City Rush game, and it was a great night!
Two of our employees, Rushmore Honda parts consultant Nick Wentz and Collision Center detailer Mike Clifford dropped the puck before the start of the game, which was also the Rush’s “DC Comics Night.” Players from each team wore specialty jerseys representing famous DC Comics characters. The Rush wore Batman jerseys while their opponents, the Tulsa Oilers, sported supervillain Joker jerseys. The Rush won 8-4, ending a fun and exciting evening!
Along with our sister stores, Denny Menholt Rapid Chevrolet and Rushmore Honda, we sponsored one of the intermission games. The winner, Stew Mehlhaff, won $750 toward a set of new tires. (To see a video of the game, visit our Facebook page.) Ashley Wetzel also won our drawing for $150 toward PDR work. Congrats, and thanks for playing!
The Nemo 500 Outhouse Races were Feb. 29 at Nemo Guest Ranch. This quirky event hosted by the Naja Shrine raises money for the Naja Shrine Kids Transportation Fund. It features the title Outhouse Races, a chili cook-off, prizes, and children’s games!
Counts of the Cobblestone Car Club hosted its 21st annual indoor car show Feb. 21-23 at the Rushmore Plaza Civic Center. Every year, proceeds from the Counts Car Show go to help local charities. Check out some of the beauties from this year’s show:
In the lead-up to the Black Hills Stock Show & Rodeo, we sponsored daily radio updates.
All Denny Menholt Auto Group employees also donned pink T-shirts as part of Monument Health Foundation’s Tough Enough to Wear Pink project. Proceeds from the T-shirt sales go to support the John T. Vucurevich Cancer Care Institute in Rapid City.
