Cultural Building now available for programming

Construction is complete on the only new building to be erected on the OneHeart campus since the four-acre property was acquired in 2019.

OneHeart’s Cultural Building takes the place of two dilapidated structures on the north side of Quincy Street. The roughly 1,500 square foot facility features an open meeting room, and a very basic kitchen with a sink, cabinets, and counterspace. The building also has its own bathroom facilities. Work remains to be done in the fenced-in area to the north of the building where an inipi (sweat lodge) will be located.

“The main purpose of OneHeart's Cultural Building is to support people as they are going through ceremony – a place to prepare for a sweat and to return to when they are finished,” Charity Doyle, Executive Director of OneHeart, said. “If it’s not being used for ceremony, it could be used for other types of programming.”

Obtaining the proper materials for the inipi has proven to be a challenge, but staff continues to seek out sources for those items so this cultural amenity is available to OneHeart guests who are Native American and wish to incorporate a spiritual component into their transformation plans.

The area on the south side of the Cultural Building was designed for a greenhouse, but a funding source for such a project has yet to be identified.

Future OneHeart goals include growing food and native plants there, and then offering classes in which guests can learn about them or try their hands at horticulture themselves.

“The Cultural Building and surrounding area turned out beautifully,” Doyle said. “It is exciting to think about the possibilities for uses of that site as our OneHeart programming continues to take shape.”

Below: A look inside the Cultural Building on the south end of the OneHeart campus.

Diaper Drive Success!

OneHeart collected more than 1,100 diapers and a big package of baby wipes last month during its first-ever diaper drive, in partnership with Volunteers of America’s Mommy’s Closet.

The pumpkin-themed drive encouraged people to donate diapers for OneHeart’s “little pumpkins,” and – boy – you came through for them!

A heartfelt “thanks” goes out to everyone who contributed!

Coming Up: Giving Tuesday

The season of giving will be here before we know it, and OneHeart is happy to participate again in the “South Dakota Day of Giving” on Giving Tuesday, Nov. 30, 2021.

All monetary donations OneHeart receives that day go into the Guest Welcome Fund to create welcome baskets for each individual or family who moves onto the campus.

Help us say “Welcome to OneHeart” on Giving Tuesday – or any day of the year!

Cultural Building now available for programming

Below: A look inside the Cultural Building on the south end of the OneHeart campus.

ONE COMMUNITY. ONE MISSION. ONEHEART.