Happy Friday! Megan here.
Weather check: Maybe a little rain, but very spring-y
🩷 A Little Help check: We've raised about $1,200 for Owen's Outfitters, and we really want to get to $5,000 by the end of the month. Can you help? This organization is filling a critical need for medical supplies in our community.
- Not ready to donate but still want to help? Share the stories we've been telling this month and spread the word about the awesome organization.
- Want an extra bonus point? We're also hoping to help Owen's Outfitters connect with a bigger space within the city so they can keep up with their expanding demand for medical supplies (and the piles of donations they have spilling out into the hallways at their current office.) Commercial real estate agents and other folks with warehouse access, I'm lookin' at you!
This week, in recognition of Earth Day next week, I stopped by the Big Sioux Stewardship Summit and learned about some of the ways people in town are working to reduce waste – including a collaborative effort to prevent food from going to the landfill when it could go to someone's plate instead. You'll also learn about how our friends at Owen's Outfitters are reducing medical waste and why that matters. Plus, lots of good stuff in the Super Simplified format this week.
And now, news:
A LITTLE HELP
Owen's Outfitters is keeping literal tons of medical supplies out of the landfill
Editor's note: This story is part of Sioux Falls Simplified's second annual "A Little Help" give-back effort. We're sharing stories all month long about Owen's Outfitters with the goal of raising $5,000 to support this fast-growing nonprofit. You can learn more here and donate here.
Simplified: Owen's Outfitters, a medical device lending library serving the Sioux Falls area, has saved more than 56,000 pounds – or 28 tons – of medical supplies from being added to the landfill.
Why it matters
- A 2017 report from ProPublica estimated that as much as 25% of healthcare spending ultimately goes to waste – including billions of dollars in medical supplies that are thrown away despite still being usable.
- Beyond the hospitals, there are also medical supplies in the average household that often go to waste or sit unused. And, beyond that, many medical supplies are built to last even though they won't be needed for all that long.
- Owen's Outfitters Executive Director Mike Turner shared the example of a knee scooter. By nature of the device, it has to be built strong enough to support the weight of an adult, often with a steel frame. But, if you have surgery and need a knee scooter, chances are you'll only need it for a few weeks or months. Then what?
"If you popped a wheel on your car, you wouldn't just throw the car away," Turner said.
Tell me more
SIMPLIFIED PRESENTS
How a one-day event can simplify your housing search
This is a paid piece from Lloyd Companies.
Simplified: Looking for a new place? Lloyd Companies' upcoming Spring Parade of Apartments on Saturday, April 26 will give you access to more than 20 properties across town that you can tour in-person or virtually with no appointment needed. Here's everything you need to know.
Why it matters
- The Parade of Apartments not only provides an easy way to view a lot of different properties, but it's also a good time to score some exclusive rent specials. Find a full list of available properties here.
- There will be members of the leasing team available at the various properties to answer any questions you might have, and, as an added bonus, anyone who applies for a home during the parade will be entered to win a Visa gift card worth $100, $250 or $500.
- This event will also give folks a first look at the new One2 building in downtown Sioux Falls, which has amenities including an elevated outdoor courtyard, underground parking and units ranging from studio to three-bedrooms.
"The weather is getting nicer, and people are excited to find a new home," Experience Manager Nikki Johnsen said. "So a day like this just makes it a really fun afternoon for you to just bob around the city and view all of the options that we have available."
Tell me more about the properties available
TL;DR
Super Simplified Stories
- TikTok in SoDak? South Dakota Governor Larry Rhoden voiced his support for a Wyoming company's bid to buy TikTok. A news release shared Wednesday afternoon also included support from the South Dakota Retailer Association, the state Chamber of Commerce and Rasner Media, the company who wants to buy the video-sharing platform. You can read the full release here and find more context here.
- Young Professionals, this week's for you. The Sioux Falls Young Professionals Network (YPN) will celebrate Young Professionals Week April 21-24 with a variety of events for the under-40 crowd. It's also the "Sweet 16" celebration of 16 years of YPN as part of the Greater Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce. You can learn more about YPN and upcoming events here.
- Sanford names new regional president. Andy Munce is the new president and CEO of the Sioux Falls region of Sanford Health, according to a news release from the hospital system. Munce has a 20-year career in healthcare and has previously served as the interim president and CEO and as the chief operating officer.
- Augie to break ground on new apartments. Augustana University is expected to break ground later this month on a new apartment building at the corner of 28th Street and Grange Avenue. According to a press release, the project was designed by VanDeWalle Architects and is being developed in partnership with Lloyd Companies. No further details are being released on the number of units or the apartment building's amenities until the groundbreaking, but here's a sneak peek at what it'll look like:
SUSTAINABILITY
How local groups are working to rescue food and reduce waste
Simplified: A community effort to reduce food waste is expanding this year after initial successes, and new partnerships are keeping thousands of pounds of food out of the regional landfill. Here's what you need to know about the organizations behind this effort: Food Rescue 605 and Bread Break.
Why it matters
- Between 30 and 40% of all food produced for human consumption goes to waste, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). That ranges from produce that goes to rot in the field to restaurant meals that went unsold or uneaten.
- Meanwhile, data from a 2022 Augustana Research study shows that 17% (or about 1 in 6) kids in Sioux Falls face food insecurity, meaning they don't have consistent access to enough food for a healthy, active life, per the USDA definition.
- That's why groups like Bread Break – a group that drives around to places with excess food and delivers that food to folks who need it – exist. The nonprofit is also working this year alongside Food Rescue 605, an effort developed under Sioux Falls Thrive as a way to rescue produce that would otherwise go to rot in local fields.
- In addition, Bread Break Executive Director Pam Cole said the organization is working to spearhead a local version of the Food Rescue US app to help connect available food with volunteers who can help deliver it where it can be eaten instead of wasted.
"The big thing is how blessed we are as a community that embraces partnerships and collaboration," said Julie Becker, executive director of the St. Francis House, another local organization helping to prevent food waste.
What does reducing food waste actually look like?
THIS AND THAT
What I'm falling for this week:
ICYMI
More Simplified Stories
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
Megan Raposa
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Thank you
Thank you to Sioux Falls Simplified sponsors, including Downtown Sioux Falls, Inc., Live on Stage, the Sioux Falls YMCA, EmBe, the Sioux Falls Development Foundation, Barre3 Sioux Falls, the Sioux Falls Zoo and Aquarium, the Washington Pavilion, and the Sioux Metro Growth Alliance. When you support them, you're also supporting Sioux Falls Simplified.
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