The Shakopee Mdewakanton Dakota Community has donated unneeded furniture and equipment to several tribes and organizations and also paid the shipping costs.

The Santee Sioux Oyate of Nebraska, the Flandreau Santee Sioux Tribe (South Dakota), and the Yankton Sioux Tribe (South Dakota) each shared in furniture used in the former Celebrity Palace for bingo.

With the opening of the new Enterprise Bingo Hall at Mystic Lake Casino in September, all new furniture was built so the excess was donated. Each of the three tribes received 40 folding tables, two projection televisions, 250 bingo chairs, 133 waste baskets, 449 folding chairs, 58 slot chairs, and 12 plastic chairs.

The Upper Sioux Community of Granite Falls, Minn., received equipment from the SMDC Public Works Department in October. Items donated were a backhoe, a sewer-cleaning truck, four walk-behind mowers, three weed whips, two electric utility carts, a chainsaw, and two conveyor belt sanders which distribute salt and sand for de-icing.

The Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Butte, S.D. received furniture and equipment from Dakotah Sport and Fitness. The youth organization received 13 upholstered chairs, eight 42-inch tables, and five end tables that are being used in the CRYP library.

Twenty-seven yellow LeMond RevMaster group exercise bikes will be used in a spinning class for youth at the CRYP.

A used shuttle bus will be donated to the Rapid City Boys Club in Rapid City, S.D. An additional shuttle bus will be donated to another organization later this fall.