Yankton Clothing Closet Makes Its Move vBy Julie Eickhoff Our community has been allowed a wonderful opportunity to help provide clothing for families in need. With awareness of the need and a partnership between the United Way and the South Dakota Human Services Center, Yankton’s Clothing Closet began in March 2004. This program provides free clothing to approximately 300 families per year. I talked with people involved with the program about its history and upcoming changes. Lauren Hanson, Executive Director of United Way of Greater Yankton; Shauna Kauth, United Way Board President, and Frani Kieffer, Executive Director of Servant Hearts Clinic gave me their insight. The Clothing Closet, currently located on the South Check presentation to The Clothing Closet from 100 Women of Yankton Dakota Human Services Center (HSC) campus, serves community members in need as well as clients and patients within the facility. When the Clothing Closet began, United Way was a part of the original concept and worked closely with HSC in creating a voucher program, allowing community members to obtain clothing vouchers at specific local service organizations. On average, over 1,200 vouchers are distributed annually. Due to increase in need of this assistance in our community, a more accessible location for the Clothing Closet was desired, including additional manpower to help serve their patrons’ needs. Servant Hearts Clinic stepped in to help with this need, providing part of their building at 232 Capital Street for the new space. Servant Hearts Clinic, initiated in 2012, is a free clinic providing services to those in need, free of charge, including medications on a limited basis. The Clinic is open on Monday evenings. In 2017, their Board of Directors decided to purchase their current building at 3rd & Capital. Though they now own the building that stretches from 232 Capital Street to 203 E 3rd Street, they only use a portion with their clinic. Frani Kieffer explains, “since we bought it, we’ve known we want to do something with it, to really continue to help our clients and our patients and also the other people in the community.” When they were approached by the United Way about a new Clothing From left to right: Prerenovation at new location, Stephanie Serck Closet location, they found it a perfect opportunity. (Clothing Closet Steering Committee), Frani Kieffer (Servant Hearts Clinic), “Partnering with Servant Hearts Clinic was a natural fit, it just made a lot of sense,” Hilary Eidsness (Clothing Closet Steering Committee) and Ashli Danilko (United Way Board of Directors) added Shauna Kauth. Willcockson Eye Associates, P .C. Quality Eye Care, Close To Home • Quality medical and surgical eye care for you and your family • State of the art cataract surgery • Expert treatment of diseases such as glaucoma, eye complications from diabetes, and macular degeneration • Extensive selection of frames, styles and lens options at The Spectacle Shop, LLC. The Spectacle Shop, L.L.C. 415 W. 3rd, Yankton • Call 605-665-9638 4vHERVOICEvMARCH/APRIL 2019 Karen E Dickes, D.O. Board Certified Ophthalmologist Medical and Surgical Eye Care Gregory A Kouri, O.D. Optometrist Medical Eye Care