On December 8, Kenny Putnam, Tom Schaefer, Owen DeJong, Brian and Kaija Bonde, Mike Connor, Boyd Bristow, Al Remund, and Larry Rohrer will be performing a concert that is sure to get you in the holiday spirit! For the third year in a row, Holiday for Fiddles (akin to the well-known Acoustic Christmas concerts) will take place in the Historic Theatre of the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City. Music lovers will have the opportunity to attend a 2 p.m. matinee performance or a 7 p.m. performance. The concert will be approximately 90 minutes and feature holiday songs to create a fun, festive atmosphere. “We’re back for another terrific Christmas show!” exclaimed Kenny Putnam. “The magic of three fiddles together with the wonderful acoustic instrumentation and beautiful, original voices are returning to celebrate the musical spirit of Christmas.” In years past, this group of musicians performed for South Dakota Public Broadcasting as Fiddles and Friends as well as for audiences as An Acoustic Christmas. Tickets are $25 each when purchased in advance or $30 at the door. Tickets can be purchased in-person, over the phone, or online through the Performing Arts Center. A portion of the proceeds from Holiday for Fiddles will benefit Youth & Family Services. “YFS is one of the most important organizations in the Black Hills that provide so many services to kids in the community,” stated Putnam. “We’re very proud to support them.” To purchase tickets, contact the Performing Arts Center of Rapid City:– 610 Columbus St, Rapid City, SD 57701– (605) 394-1786– https://performingartsrc.org/box-office/

Riverfront Broadcasting stations Classic Hits Q92-3, KOTA Radio, and Z 106-3 will be partnering with Youth & Family Services to help make this holiday season a bit brighter for girls in our community through their sponsorship of Gifts for Girls! Gifts for Girls encourages community members to sponsor one or more girls enrolled in YFS’ Girls Inc. of Rapid City and Health Connections programs for the holiday season. In total, YFS hopes to find sponsors for 100 girls. To fulfill one or more wishes, individuals can visit our Gifts for Girls page, select the girl(s) you wish to sponsor, and send us an email by clicking the icon below girl’s name you wish to purchase a gift for. In the email, donors should include their name and phone number as well as the name and number of the girl(s) they wish to purchase a gift for. Donors are not expected to purchase all items listed; the ideas provided are simply wishes from the girls. Once a girl has been selected, it will state “Wish Being Fulfilled” above her name instead of “Sponsor Needed”. Gifts can be delivered to Youth & Family Services’ (1920 N Plaza Blvd, Rapid City), Monday through Friday from 8 a.m.-4 p.m. OR to Riverfront Broadcasting (1116 Jackson Blvd, Rapid City) Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. We ask that you return the gift wrapped with the name and number of the girl the gift is intended for by December 13 so we can deliver them in time for Christmas! If you have any questions, please call Brianna Nelson at (605) 342-4195.

Youth & Family Services (YFS) Holiday Gift Wrapping Booth inside Uptown Rapid is now open. This booth provides a festive and convenient experience for shoppers while raising funds to support our youth-serving programs. The booth will be open from 12 p.m. to 6 p.m., daily, through December 24. Volunteer shifts are still available. To view available shifts, click here! Volunteers must be 13 or older. Volunteering at the Holiday Gift Wrapping Booth is a wonderful way to spread holiday cheer alongside your coworkers, friends, family, club members, or community group while making a positive impact on children in our area. If you can’t volunteer but want to support our efforts, please consider passing this invitation on to others who may want to help. We invite everyone to stop by, get their gifts wrapped, and contribute to a great cause this festive season!

Earlier today, youth enrolled in Youth & Family Services’ Girls Inc. of Rapid City and Middle School Program attended a presentation on the contributions of women during World War II. The presentation was led by local educator and historian Don Balyeat and featured authentic military documents, photographs, letters, and other materials showcasing the roles women played in serving the United States and its allies during the war. “It’s a part of our history that should not be forgotten,” said Balyeat, who has been providing presentations on the topic since 2011. So far, he has presented to more than 21,000 individuals. In addition to the oral presentation and viewing the artifacts, youth enjoyed watching a slideshow of photos that played in conjunction with the legendary “Rosie the Riveter” song. They also learned about local heroes from various theaters of the war. One such example was Ola Mildred Rexrota, the only Native American woman to serve in the Women Airforce Service Pilots (WASPs). A member of the Oglala Nation, Ola graduated from the St. Mary’s Episcopal Indian School in Springfield, South Dakota, in 1932, before joining the WASPs.  During the presentation, students eagerly asked questions ranging from how many women served in World War II to what it was like for Balyeat to walk to school as a child alongside several “Rosies” from his neighborhood. Some of the youth were excited to share stories about their own family members who have or currently serve in the military. Balyeat shared he enjoys answering the students’ questions and encourages them to conduct further research on the topic. “I hope they go and look up their family history, so they can learn more about who they are,” he remarked. Balyeat also expressed his thanks to the teachers who allow him into their classrooms to present this information. “They are the ones who open the door [to knowledge] and say, ‘Come on in.’” This is not the first time Balyeat has presented to students at YFS. In a previous visit, he shared information about his other passion, the Civil War. Like during his WWII presentation, Don showcases real antiques from the Civil War era and allows the students to interact with them personally.  “People ask me, ‘Why do you let them touch that stuff?’ I always say, ‘Why else would I bring it? It’s been through a lot worse than a classroom.’”