March 30, 2022

Giving Back recognizes businesses and organizations that are helping our communities. Here’s a look at who gave back for March.

Rudy M. Navarrete’s Tex-Mexican Catering

Rudy Navarrete of Rudy M. Navarrete’s Tex-Mexican Catering hosted four taco bars last fall in partnership with Severance Brewing Co., WoodGrain Brewing Co., Fernson Downtown and Covert Artisan Ales & Cellars as part of his fourth annual shoe drive. The events raised more than $8,700 to buy 165 pairs of name-brand sneakers from Tradehome Shoes for kids served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Sioux Empire. Navarette typically donates the shoes at Christmastime, but this year the event was planned around the 65th anniversary of the organization. At an event March 9, boys and girls were fitted for shoes by staff from Tradehome, and Navarrete served a meal for the kids.

Rudy M. Navarrete’s also is putting on a taco bar April 13 at the Brandon VFW to raise money for the Gold Star Family Memorial that will be built at Veterans Memorial Park in Sioux Falls. Diners will be asked to donate at least $12, with all proceeds going to the memorial, which honors families who have lost a loved one defending American freedoms. Ground beef, chicken, pork, rice, beans and taco fixings will be served from 5 to 9 p.m.

Smithfield Foods 

Smithfield Foods Inc. has given cash and in-kind donations totaling $2 million to crisis relief efforts related to the war in Ukraine. Smithfield, which has operations in Central Europe, made $250,000 donations to the Global Red Cross Network, Mercy Chefs, Save the Children and World Central Kitchen. Since the outset of violence in late February, Smithfield Europe has provided support for Ukrainian team members and refugees in the region by securing transport, accommodations, employment and other types of care. Additionally, Smithfield Europe has engaged in regular donations of shelf-stable and other protein to food banks and temporary shelters across the region. Combined, these ongoing aid efforts will amount to $1 million in in-kind contributions.

Wells Fargo

In celebration of Wells Fargo’s return to in-person, organized volunteerism, the company has donated a total of $25,000 to four Sioux Falls area nonprofits: Feeding South Dakota, Junior Achievement of South Dakota, Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sioux Falls and the Lutheran Social Services Youth Mentoring program. Wells Fargo paused group employee volunteer events at the beginning of the pandemic and resumed those activities in March.