Brookings Area United Way

09/05/2026

✈️Frequent Flyer? Make a donation to us now and you can be rewarded with SkyMiles!

Donate with the special Delta link below by Sept 30th and earn up to 5,000 bonus miles as a thank you from Delta. Enter our ZIP code (57006) if you donate to ensure your donation reaches us!
https://partners.uwga.org/skymiles/

09/04/2026

Help us Chalk the Walk Brookings County!🖍️
From September 6–12, we’re encouraging our community to spread messages of hope, connection, and support through the 2nd Annual Chalk the Walk Initiative!

Grab some chalk and head outside next week to share a positive message, remind someone they matter, or spread the word about 988. It’s a simple way to help create a community where people feel seen, supported, and connected.

🖍️We have a few Chalk The Walk kits left, if you would like one, sign up at www.brookingsunitedway.org

***dePreventionMonth

09/03/2026

Help us welcome our newest Intern, Emily Baker! She is working on her Masters in Social Work and decided to join our rambunctious crew to make a difference while she learns! Read more about her and say hello👋

09/02/2026

Heidi Gullickson, Executive Director at Brookings Area United Way, discusses the Dolly Parton Imagination Library during an August 28, 2026 interview with

09/01/2026

This September, our United Way team (and our little helper) will be making our way around the County delivering free 988 signs!
For the past two years, we have been putting these signs out around Brookings County during Su***de Prevention Month because knowing where to turn can make all the difference.

988 is available 24/7 for anyone experiencing a mental health or emotional challenge, including anxiety, depression, stress, substance use, or thoughts of su***de. Call, text, or chat 988 for your connection. Brookings United Way wants our communities to see 988, know what it is, and know that support is available.

📍Want a free 988 sign for your home or business? Sign up for one and learn more on ways to get involved this month at www.brookingsunitedway.org

***dePreventionMonth

08/31/2026

08/31/2026

This week, we caught up with the Brookings County Food Pantry to learn more about what items are most needed in our community right now.❤️

If you’re heading to the grocery store this week, consider adding one (or more!) of these Top 10 Most-Needed Items to your cart:
Cereal
Beef ramen
Creamed soups
Pop-Tarts
Spaghetti sauce
Canned chicken
Canned tuna
Ketchup
Pancake syrup
Oatmeal

Every donation makes a difference! A simple item from your grocery list can help stock the shelves and support a neighbor in need.

The Food Pantry has fresh vegetables that are free to community members every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 1:00–4:30 PM.🥕 Households can access regular food panty services up to three times a year with a valid ID and one piece of mail verify address.

Check out the Brookings County Food Pantry at https://brookingscountyfoodpantry.weebly.com/ or find them on Facebook by searching Brookings County Emergency Food Pantry.

08/27/2026

Dolly Parton recently shared a story about her father, one of the most important figures in her life. While her success was extraordinary, he truly beamed when she began Dolly Parton's Imagination Library. He had never learned to read, and he realized the burden that carried. He told her that of everything she accomplished, he was most proud of her for starting that organization.

Since 2002, Brookings Area United Way has helped further her mission "to create a love for books and reading in children and give every child the start they need in education and life." (photo of 2002 board members and Dolly celebrating our commitment).

Since her recent passing, we've seen an increase in enrollment as she continued to bring attention to the cause. She would surely love that.

In lieu of flowers, she and her family asks for donations to be made to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at www.imaginationlibrary.com

If you choose to do so, visit the website and click donate. You may even choose to direct your gift to us or any organization in your area. You can also dedicate the donation to Dolly or another loved one.

We will continue our work with the Dolly Parton Imagination Library, and do so in her honor. We thank her for starting this important endeavor that we will now all carry on for years to come.

08/26/2026

Apparently, the silliness and need to entertain have been around for awhile…
Happy Birthday to our fun-loving, slightly ridiculous (in the best way!) boss, Heidi!

We hope your day is filled with lots of laughs, good times, and all the fun you bring to everyone around you🎉💗