Dakota's Give-Back Project

08/15/2026

ELMIRA, NY (WENY) — Dakota Rinker, a local teen passionate about giving back to the community, hosted a meet-and-greet on Friday to raise funds for an annual first responder appreciation

08/15/2026

ELMIRA, N.Y. (WETM)— A local teenager held a fundraiser to support first responders in the Twin Tiers on Friday, Aug. 14. 13-year-old Dakota Rinker, the founder of “Dakota’s Give Back P…

08/14/2026

08/14/2026

Dakota has been busy already this morning at Copy Express.

He is here until 5pm taking donations, sponsorships and ready to talk to you about his plans for his upcoming First Responders Dinner on October 24, 2026.

Come meet with him and give him the stepping stone to run his dinner.

A huge thank you to Copy Express for this opportunity.

08/14/2026

Today’s the day. Come and meet Dakota at copy express chat with him about his upcoming plans for his first responder dinner and support him with a sponsorship. If you are able to he will be taking general donations as well.

08/12/2026

Reminder, come out and see Dakota this Friday 12-5pm

08/11/2026

IT'S OFFICIAL — DAKOTA'S 2026 FIRST RESPONDER DINNER SPONSORSHIPS ARE OPEN!

With Dakota's first official 2026 Meet & Greet and Fundraiser happening THIS FRIDAY at Copy Express, there couldn't be a better time to kick this off!

For the past two years, Dakota has offered T-shirt sponsorships to help with his efforts to give back to our first responders. Our community has been absolutely incredible about supporting him, but this year we wanted to do something new, meaningful and a little more special.

We are SO excited about this one. ❤️🤍💙

🪙 INTRODUCING THE 2026 DAKOTA'S GIVEBACK PROJECT LIMITED-EDITION CHALLENGE COIN!

This coin will be created specifically for Dakota's Giveback Project and represents the people this project was created to honor.
And here's what makes it different:

THESE COINS WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE FOR PUBLIC SALE.
Dakota will personally gift a select few throughout the year to first responders and individuals he chooses to recognize.
Outside of those personally gifted coins, the opportunity for the public to receive one will be through sponsorship of Dakota's 2026 First Responder Dinner.

❤️THE DINNER — OCTOBER 24, 2026

Dakota's First Responder Dinner is about one thing:
Saying THANK YOU to the men and women who serve, protect and answer the call.

Sponsorships will help cover the cost of the dinner and allow Dakota to create an evening where our first responders can simply come together, eat, be appreciated and know that their community sees what they do.

And you don't have to be a business to sponsor!

⭐ Friend of the Giveback — ANY AMOUNT
Every single dollar helps make the dinner possible.
⭐ Community Supporter — $50
⭐ Giveback Partner — $100

🏅 Community Hero — $250
Includes additional sponsor recognition AND every $250 sponsor will be entered into an exclusive drawing for 1 of 5 Challenge Coins!

🪙 Honor Sponsor — $500
Includes enhanced sponsor recognition, a dedicated social-media spotlight, prominent recognition at the dinner and ONE GUARANTEED 2026 Challenge Coin.

🏆 Presenting Hero — $1,000
Our highest sponsorship level includes premier recognition as a major sponsor of the 2026 First Responder Dinner AND something we're making especially meaningful:
🪙 One specially presented 2026 Challenge Coin
🎁 Keepsake display box
✍️ Handwritten and signed Letter of Authenticity from Dakota
⭐ Premier sponsor recognition and logo placement
📣 Featured individual sponsor/business spotlight
Premier recognition at the First Responder Dinner.

🚨 READY TO SPONSOR? YOU DON'T HAVE TO WAIT!
Sponsoring can be done completely online.
Simply message us or email [email protected] with the sponsorship level you'd like, and we will send you an invoice.

OR...

COME SEE DAKOTA THIS FRIDAY AT COPY EXPRESS!

Dakota will be there for his FIRST OFFICIAL 2026 MEET & GREET AND FUNDRAISER at 12noon.

Come meet him, learn more about the Giveback Project, see what he has planned for 2026 and become one of the first sponsors of this year's First Responder Dinner.

And if you're thinking about sponsoring, don't wait too long, Dakota has already started planning and he needs your help.

📅 Dinner: October 24, 2026

⏰ Sponsorship deadline: September 20, 2026

This project has grown because people in our community continue to believe that saying THANK YOU matters.

Whether you sponsor for $25, $250 or $1,000, you're helping Dakota put together a night for the people who are there for all of us on some of our very worst days.

One kid. One community. One mission.

❤️ BE PART OF THE GIVEBACK. ❤️
📧 [email protected]
Please Spread the word and help us get Dakota's 2026 Dinner Sponsorships off to an amazing start!

07/20/2026

📍 We’re Looking for a Home for a Special Night! ❤️🚑🚒🚓

Dakota’s Giveback Project is excited to begin planning our 3rd Annual First Responder Appreciation Dinner, which will be held on Saturday, October 24, 2026.

This year’s event is especially meaningful, as we’re celebrating in conjunction with National First Responders Day, observed each year on October 28. Since October 28 falls on a Wednesday this year, we’ll be honoring our local heroes the Saturday before so they can enjoy an evening dedicated entirely to them.

Each year, this event is our way of saying thank you to the incredible first responders who dedicate their lives to protecting and serving our communities. It’s a night of appreciation, fellowship, and recognition for those who so often put others before themselves.

Right now, we’re searching for the perfect location to host this special evening.

Do you know of a venue, banquet hall, community center, fire hall, church, business, or other space that might be willing to host or partner with us? We’d love to hear your suggestions! If you own a venue or know someone who does, please reach out.

Your recommendation—or even sharing this post—could help make this year’s appreciation dinner another unforgettable evening for the heroes in our community.

Thank you for helping us honor those who answer the call when we need them most. ❤️

📩 Please comment below or send us a private message with any suggestions.

04/27/2026

For Mary, and the Millport Volunteer Fire Department
From Melissa Rinker – April 27, 2026

We were invited to dinner Saturday night to celebrate Millport Volunteer Fire Departments 100th anniversary. We came as guests. That’s all we knew. Dakota didn’t know he was being honored. None of us did. We were there to honor you.

I never finished my dinner. I started to feel unwell before I took my first bite. I stepped into the vestibule to sit, to catch my breath, to try to bring my blood pressure down. I could tell it was high. My face was hot.

Mary had been outside. She walked by, stopped, and asked if I was okay. I told her I was fine. This was your dinner. I didn’t want to disrupt your event or take attention from your night.

She wasn’t taking no for an answer.

She checked my pulse, said my heart was racing, and insisted she take my blood pressure. It was 160/100. From that moment, she never left my side. She held my arm. She put her hand on my back. She insisted I get to the emergency room. She walked me to my car. And she did it all without the room knowing what was happening.

By the time I reached the ER, my blood pressure was 212/102.

The department moved Dakota’s award up so we could leave for the hospital. He didn’t get to stand and thank everyone, because taking care of me came first. We came to celebrate your service. We left with my son named Citizen of the Year, and with me alive to see it.

Today is a difficult day and I have to see a doctor and talk about how scared I am. I’m still not better. But I woke up. My feet hit the floor.

And that happened because on the night we came to honor you, you chose to serve me. Mary prioritized my health over her dinner, my dignity over a scene, and my son’s moment over convenience.

Dakota has spent 7 years thanking first responders for what they might do. Saturday night, you showed us what you do. You see people. You stay. You act.

To Mary: Thank you for not accepting “I’m okay.” Thank you for never leaving my side.
To Millport Fire: Thank you for inviting us to your celebration. Thank you for honoring Dakota. Thank you for getting his mother home safely, with grace and without fanfare. I don’t have words big enough for that night.

I’m not ready for video. I’m ready for this to be “over.” But private doesn’t cover what you did. So I’m saying public, it here and everywhere.

With gratitude,
Melissa Rinker
Pine City, NY
Proud mom of Dakota Rinker