Latest news with #MidwestStreetMedicine
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
The fundraiser to show what unhoused people face
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) —A Sioux Falls nonprofit is holding a fundraiser this weekend, but its message goes far beyond raising money. People who live in shelters or on the street often have complex health needs– that is why Midwest Street Medicine was formed. Headstone statues stolen in Watertown, police look for owners 'We do addiction help, we do wound care, we do medication management. We try to connect people to resources that can help. You know, people need treatment or primary care providers,' the Director of Clinical and Community Engagement for Midwest Street Medicine, Diane Eide, said. But Eide says there are misconceptions surrounding many of the people Midwest Street Medicine helps. 'Just that they simply don't want to work, which is not true. There's so much mental illness and addiction out there that they just have trouble navigating even how to get the help they need,' Eide said. Which is why the organization is hosting a unique fundraiser this Saturday. 'We're going to do a scavenger hunt,' Eide said. 'They will be having you answer a question about the unhoused and have you gain points for that, and then we'll give you a new clue to another location where you'll do the same thing,' Event volunteer, Midwest Street Medicine, Courtney Hardie said. It's about more than raising money, Midwest Street Medicine also hopes to raise awareness. 'It's better for everyone and all involved, our community and our economy by helping these individuals,' Hardie said. 'We're trying to make some of the barriers that our unhoused people face every day real and maybe show them some things they haven't thought about before, give them different perspectives,' Eide said. Click here for more information on Reality Check: A Quest to Escape the Streets. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
10-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Local para climber pursues Olympic dream
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — Last October, we told you the story of a former Sioux Falls gymnast who was paralyzed after a terrible fall back in 2003, and how she recently won her 4th national title in Adaptive Crossfit. 'A huge difference': Midwest Street Medicine now offering glasses But now Andrea Wilson is climbing her way to the top in another sport. When you are training for the Olympics, that's a big hill to climb. But that's what Andrea Wilson is hoping for; to make the USA Olympic team in para climbing. 'Crossfit has given me a lot of my strength necessary for the climbing; that's the big pulling muscle strength from it, I need to work a lot on some of the smaller muscles, like my forearms and grip strength that is more unique to climbing and takes longer to develop,' Wilson said. But she's working on it every day as she pursues that Olympic dream. Wilson recently competed in the Para Climbing Nationals in California and placed second, which qualified her to be on Team USA for the World Cup. 'This year the world cup series is in Salt Lake City, Austria, France and Seoul,' Wilson said. The athletes are scored by how high they can climb; if there's a tie then it comes down to how fast. It didn't take Wilson long to scale a 30 foot wall at Frontier Climbing and Fitness, but as you can see when you only use your arms; it's exhausting. Wilson says she's still going to compete in Crossfit. In fact, she just competed at an event while she was in California and she currently sits number one in the world. But for now her focus is going to be on making the US Olympic team; even at the age of 40 it's something that has reinvigorated her competitive nature. 'I think that's a good way of putting it, it's something exciting and giving me purpose that I didn't find at a younger age, so it's really fun whether it's new now at 40 to give me something to strive for and as long as my body is going to let me do it, I'm going to keep pushing for it,' Wilson said. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Midwest Street Medicine looks to expand care resources
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) – A group of volunteers in Sioux Falls who help people on the street get medical care is looking to grow its services. It's been nearly two years since Midwest Street Medicine started helping people experiencing homelessness get items like bandages and proper clothing. Co-founder of the non-protfit, Melissa Dittberner, says she knew she wanted to help the people in her community after seeing the homeless population in Los Angeles. 'When we got started, really, the principles of street medicine are to go to the people. And so we went out and asked people, 'what do you need? What could we help you with if we had, you know, if we could do medicine, what would that look like?'' Dittberner said. SDSU runs past North Dakota into Summit title game Currently the volunteer staff has grown to over 40 people, many who have a medical background like Diane Eide, who is a registered nurse. 'Our volunteer base has gotten bigger. You know we have some very dedicated doctors and PAs and nurse practitioners and nurses and people that specialize in addiction care,' Eide said. Dittberner says volunteers see anywhere from 40 to 60 people on their outreach days which happen on Sundays and Mondays in downtown Sioux Falls. 'Of course in the cold and flu season, cough drops or something like that is of need. And even like snacks to be able to just have a snack along the way. But really, hats, gloves, scarves, socks are kind of like primarily the need,' Dittberner said. Many of the people who receive help are struggling with addiction, something Dittberner says she can relate to, and is another reason why this work is important to her. 'We want to be able to give people the dignity and the care that they need. I mean, take a moment to think about what it would look like yourself if you ended up in this situation. I'm sure that you would like our services to be of available to you. And so that's really kind of where I'm coming from,' Dittberner said. Midwest Street Medicine is looking to raise $1 million this year. Eventually the organization would like a dentist or hairstyle on its volunteer team, as well as service other parts of the city besides April 26 the organization will be hosting a scavenger hunt fundraiser at Remedy Brewing Company in Sioux Falls. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
18-02-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Extreme cold brings more people to Union Gospel Mission
SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (KELO) — People across KELOLAND are hunkering down for a multi-day stretch of extreme cold. It's the type of weather that can be dangerous for anyone outside even for a short amount of time. The temperatures outside Monday struggled to even reach zero. When it's this cold, one of the places people are turning to is the Union Gospel Mission. SD native deals with loss of federal job On days like Monday, spending any time outside can be dangerous, especially for people like Kamrein Laemmle, who don't have a permanent place to call home. 'Usually, I just make short distance walks. I don't try to travel too far, but even when I have to go to work, I have to walk like two miles. It's like an hour walk,' Laemmle said. Laemmle is currently staying at the Union Gospel Mission. 'I'm so thankful because if I didn't have this place, I don't know where I'd go,' Laemmle said. As of Monday afternoon, the Sioux Falls shelter only had one bed left. On cold nights, like Monday night, the shelter will set up extra beds for what it calls Mercy Nights. 'You can think of it as like an overflow of people that we're letting stay,' Union Gospel Mission Men's Center co-director Todd Hill said. 'If there's anybody that's in need of a place, come here. Come to a safe place. Know that if you need a bed overnight, just come here. Don't be out there trying to do this on your own,' Union Gospel Mission CEO Eric Weber said. 'We're expecting higher numbers tonight, Tuesday night, Wednesday night, probably Thursday, Friday. It sounds like warm weather is coming next weekend and next week, so maybe the numbers will go down,' Hill said. Until temperatures start warming up, Weber is encouraging everyone to lend a helping hand. 'When it gets this cold, if you see somebody that needs to be inside somewhere, get them inside somewhere,' Weber said. Weber said that teams such as Midwest Street Medicine were out encouraging people to find shelter. He also said you can dial 211 to help you find resources for people in need. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
