During the 2013 holiday season, the attorneys and staff of Davenport Evans worked together as “A Thankful Team” to help those in need. The firm selected three local needs-based organizations to be the focus of a “Thankful Team” project, the St. Francis House, Union Gospel Mission and Salvation Army. The firm also served a meal at The Banquet. In November and December 2013, Davenport Evans provided financial support and gathered material donations to help these groups meet specific unmet needs. There were also volunteer opportunities offered to employees for gifts of time.
The first Davenport Evans “Thankful Team” focus was the St. Francis House. Click here to read more about that meaningful project.
The second of the Davenport Evans “Thankful Team” projects involved support for the Union Gospel Mission. Davenport Evans sponsored the Thanksgiving meal and associated needs at the Union Gospel Mission for 400+ guests. In the photo above, attorney Brendan W. Reilly presents Union Gospel Mission Executive Director Fran Stenberg with the sponsorship. In addition, attorneys and staff donated a collective $415.00 to the Union Gospel Mission Christmas Store. The Christmas Store is stocked with gifts appropriate for teens and older children sometimes overlooked by toy drives. Kids in these age groups are allowed to “shop” in the store to select their Christmas gift of choice. Underwear and personal hygiene items were also gathered for area charities at this time.
The third “Thankful Team” project focus was the Salvation Army. Together Davenport Evans attorneys and staff gathered funds to purchase 53 heavy fleece blankets for the Salvation Army. The blankets arrived just in time for one of the coldest weeks on record in South Dakota, for use in the warming shelter and for guests to take with them at the end of their stay.
Also in December, the Davenport Evans team spent an evening serving a meal, eating with guests, washing dishes, carrying trays, scrubbing tables and being blessed at The Banquet. Dinner was served for over 313 adults and 32 children, and all enjoyed some time to get to know their neighbors and the meaningful work done by the organization every day. According to Food Service Director Marvella Shatter, in 2013 volunteer groups working with The Banquet served 160,605 meals; 23,714 of those meals were to children.
Davenport Evans wishes all a blessed New Year.
Davenport, Evans, Hurwitz & Smith, LLP, located in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, is one of the State’s largest law firms. The firm’s attorneys provide business and litigation counsel to individuals and corporate clients in a variety of practice areas. For more information about Davenport Evans, visit www.dehs.com.