‘Sprinkles for Sprinklers’ launched for Growing Roots

Growing Roots Preschool and Custer Lutheran Fellowship (CLF) are launching the “Sprinkles for Sprinklers” campaign to address a critical infrastructure need: the required $38,000 replacement of CLF’s fire sprinkler system. This fix is essential for the facility to maintain its state safety license, securing the future of the child-centered preschool, which serves 16 local families.
The financial burden for this essential upgrade falls on CLF, whose partnership with the preschool goes back to the program’s founding three years ago.
The fundraising effort is being amplified by a $3,000 anonymous donor match challenge. Every direct donation made to the sprinkler fund will be doubled until the $3,000 pool is exhausted.
“This is not just an expense for the church; it’s an investment in the next generation of our community,” said CLF pastor Shannon Witt. “The total cost of this required infrastructure upgrade is $38,000, and the ‘Sprinkles for Sprinklers’ campaign is a much appreciated effort to help us cover the expense of the upgrade.”
“This project is not elective; it is required for us to legally operate our licensed preschool,” said Nora Smolnisky, Growing Roots board president. “To keep our doors open and our students safe, we urge the Custer community to take advantage of the $3,000 anonymous donor match immediately. Every donation made before our Dec. 2 event will be doubled, literally turning $100 into $200 for our kids’ safety.”
The public is invited to participate in the campaign by attending a community-wide cookie-decorating event followed by Christmas caroling on the South Dakota Day of Giving, Tuesday, Dec. 2, at Custer Lutheran Fellowship.
Tickets for the cookie decorating party are $15 for an individual kit or $40 for a group of four, including warm drinks. The event is from 5:30-7:30 p.m. The caroling will start at 6:45 p.m.
If you can’t make the party you can still support the cause by pre-ordering cookies for your holiday events. Choose from plain undecorated cookie dozens or professionally-decorated Santa cookie dozens ready for gifting. The deadline for all cookie pre-orders is Monday, Nov. 17.
In addition to event tickets and cookie sales, the community can make tax-deductible donations that immediately qualify for the match:
• Sponsor a Sprinkler Head: A $100 donation is instantly doubled to $200 for safety.
“We invite everyone to come to the party, sing some carols, and help us turn sprinkles into safety,” added Smolnisky. “Your support secures the physical infrastructure that keeps the Growing Roots Program thriving in Custer.”
For tickets, matched donations and more information on the match challenge visit zeffy.com/en-US/ticketing/sprinkles-for-sprinklers-double-your-impact-for-saf ety or go to the Growing Root’s website event page at growingrootssd.com/events