Every February, Youth & Family Services (YFS) staff turn their kitchen into a sea of sprinkles, frosting and sugar cookies. Over 1,000 dozen cookies (that’s not a typo) will be baked, frosted and delivered to the organization’s supporters — a favorite tradition of both the receivers of the cookies and deliverers. It’s a Herculean feat — everything is made from scratch, even the sprinkles — but it serves as a reminder of the profound power in something handmade.
This story isn’t just about these Valentine’s cookies (although if you’ve ever tasted them, you know they are worth writing about on flavor alone — IYKYK). This story is about gratitude: a topic that seems to come to the top of our minds during the last two months of the year.
What YFS is All About
“Youth & Family Services is committed to meeting the critical needs of thousands of children and families living throughout western South Dakota,” explained Connie Olson, YFS Chief Development Officer.
YFS serves more than 14,000 individuals in Rapid City and throughout the 31 counties of western South Dakota. This decades-old organization offers a diverse variety of programs that are aimed, primarily, to serve underprivileged kids in the area, but they offer resources and support to practically everyone in the community. “These cookies are our way of expressing our gratitude in a personal, memorable and delicious way to all those individuals, organizations and businesses who make our work possible,” Connie said.
It’s important to note that many of YFS’ programs rely on community support to exist. “Some programs have very stable grants, but some of them don’t,” Connie went on, “Some of our programs would not exist if we didn’t have the support of the community.”
Something Really Human
“Years ago, our board decided we really need to show our gratitude to those who support us,” Connie continued. “We wanted to do something tangible with our hands that was low cost and showed that we valued them — that you made a difference in the life of a child.” That’s how — 28 years ago — the tradition of baking and delivering these handcrafted Valentine’s cookies was born.
Jeremy LeLaCheur, Communications Coordinator at YFS, reflected on how this level of intentionality when showing gratitude tells a story: “There’s something really human about making food for other people,” he shared. “There’s a love and kind of gratitude that you can only give through that.”
Play Together a Little Bit Nicer
Showing gratitude is powerful. Simply practicing thankfulness can boost your mental health. Science backs that up: over 60 studies found actively practicing gratitude cut anxiety by nearly 8 percent and depression by almost 7 percent. That’s definitely worth noting during this hectic time of the year.
Darcie Decker, YFS’ Nutrition Services Director, pointed out that YFS’s sweet tradition of gratitude is a great example for families to follow. “We certainly don’t want to be seen only with our hands out; only taking,” she said. “We have to be giving. We have to be showing appreciation. Raising kids, you need to show them how to love others, how to care for others, how to give, how to play. We also need to remember that as adults, too — that we need to play together a little bit nicer.”
So if you’re feeling the stress this Christmas season, take it from the team at YFS, gratitude is the antidote. And consider taking a cue from this incredible team: make gratitude fun — whether it’s baking cookies, making a craft, volunteering or spending a few minutes with someone who needs it, the effect is powerful — for you and the other person. “It is all about that homemade, made-with-love token of appreciation,” Connie said.
The story of YFS reminds us that giving thanks doesn’t need to be grandiose — it can be sweet, simple and heartfelt. And families, juggling a million things at once, can take inspiration from that: even maybe — especially — small gestures have power. Gratitude, expressed with handmade love, can change lives — theirs and yours. So, this holiday season, slow down, take a breath and demonstrate to your kids how powerful a little gratitude can be.