Winter apparel placement highlights community need

RAPID CITY, S.D. — The City of Rapid City wants to remind the public to give downtown presidential statues a more seasonal look with warm, winter attire.

This effort has been successful each winter season for the past six years, with items placed on the statues from mid-November to mid-March.

The community has helped with the outreach by placing items on the statues. Then the items are taken by individuals who need them.

Darrell Shoemaker, City of Rapid City Communications Coordinator, says, “Especially now with the colder weather, it’s more clear that they need those items, so we are encouraging the public as we have done every winter for the last five years, for people to bring down – whether it’s ear muffs or stocking caps, gloves, scarfs – any of those winter apparel items will work, and again I think I get the feeling they could be items just sitting around the house, but know that it’s going to meet a great community need.”

Churches, schools and other organizations have also joined local residents in the random placement of apparel items on statues.

Shoemaker says, “I’m very impressed by the community response; I think it certainly meets a need for the people who need the items, but I think for the people giving those items, you know it gives them a feeling that they are doing some community good.”