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Luverne teen spearheads her largest community project to date

Lead Summary
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By
Mavis Fodness

Luverne’s Ryleigh Beers is experienced in raising money to help others.
Two years ago the recent graduate of Luverne High School purchased and delivered art supplies for the Children’s Home Society. The following year she made dozens of blankets to be given away for Project Linus.
This year Beers’ project has a slight twist.
“It’s my last active year in 4-H,” Beers said. “I wanted to do something big.”
She expanded her community service efforts by applying for several community grants and making personal presentations. Her efforts garnered $2,000 for the assembly of hygiene bags.
The simple plastic storage bags contain personal items that are given to families and individuals who are getting back on their feet or need a little help.
Recently Beers tapped her fellow members of the Magnolia Juniors 4-H Club to assemble 170 kits. The kits are destined for the local middle/high school Back Pack Program as well as the Sioux Falls St. Francis House and Bishop Dudley Hospitality House.
The majority of the kits will be given away at the Dudley house where they call the hygiene kits “Blessing Bags.”
“It is great,” said Derek DeBates, volunteer coordinator with the BDHH. “We are blessed that we have such a caring community. It means a lot to us that we have people who give these Blessing Kits.”
DeBates said as families leave the hospitality house for a more permanent facility, each member receives a kit as a blessing for continued success on their journey toward self-sufficiency.
Beers planned for three types of kits with some items specifically included for a man, woman or a child.
“What Ryleigh did was wonderful,” DeBates said.
He said the BDHH tries to put together Blessing Kits using existing donations but Beers’ assembled kits contain far more items.
Shampoo, mouthwash, cotton swabs, facial tissues, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap and a washcloth were among the items placed in plastic zippered bags by the 34 4-H members who helped with the assembly.
After the 4-H’ers finished filling the kits, they were asked to fill out an evaluation on Beers’ project, reflecting on what they learned.
“I know this will somehow help someone,” wrote 4-H member Andrea Luitjens.

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