CAP Recognized with Spirit of Volunteerism Award
(Rapid City) - Civil Air Patrol (CAP) was recognized by the Helpline Center of Sioux Falls and Rapid City as a recipient of its annual Spirit of Volunteerism awards. The awards recognize individuals, groups, and businesses that gave of their time and talent to care for communities across South Dakota. The awards were presented during National Volunteer Week, April 18-24.
“Civil Air Patrol is one of the premier national volunteer service organizations,” said Col. Nick Gengler, CAP commander in South Dakota. “In South Dakota, our members devote countless hours to the missions that Congress gave us when CAP was chartered 80 years ago.”
CAP is the civilian auxiliary of the Air Force, with responsibilities that are part of the USAF’s support civil authorities to save lives, relieve suffering, prevent property damage and provide humanitarian assistance. CAP also develops young leaders through its cadet program and promoted aerospace education.
In November, Civil Air Patrol in South Dakota, known as South Dakota Wing, performed among the first COVID-19 vaccine delivery flights by CAP nationally. CAP is one of over 200 Spirit of Volunteerism award recipients this year. It is scheduled to be recognized in a video released by the Helpline Center on Tuesday (April 20) on its website at helplinecenter.org/sva. Links will also be provided on the Helpline Center’s Sioux Falls and Rapid City Facebook and Instagram feeds.
“This event is something we look forward to each year,” said Susie Ryks, volunteer services director for the Helpline Center. “It was important for us to recognize the ways individuals and groups who have stepped up during the pandemic.”
CAP has over 400 members in South Dakota with units in Brookings, Custer, Miller, Mitchell, Pierre, Rapid City, Sioux Falls, Spearfish and Tea. The wing can deploy its six aircraft, ground teams and small search drones to assist in emergency response and other support to local, state, tribal and federal agencies.
Helpline Center videos recognizing the award recipients can be found at:
https://www.helplinecenter.org/sva/spirit-of-volunteerism-videos/
2021 Volunteer Honoree Civil Air Patrol from Helpline Center, Inc. on Vimeo.
