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The Need: Why South Dakota Veterans
South Dakota is home to nearly 60,000 veterans who are spread across vast farmland and wide-open ranch country. Veterans and their families deserve more than fragmented systems or one-size-fits-all programs designed for big cities. They deserve local, trusted support that reflects the culture and community of South Dakota.
Distance is the barrier.
Many veterans live hours away from the nearest VA or military resource.
Isolation is the risk.
Loneliness, food insecurity, and stigma weigh heavily in our small towns.
Fewer people, greater responsibility.
With fewer people in our entire state than in some cities, every neighbor matters.
Our Mission
Developing communities of care for veteran and military families in South Dakota.
Why Now
We’re at a turning point. The first generation of post-9/11 veterans is aging into new challenges, while today’s military families face higher costs, mental health struggles, and ongoing transitions. Without strong community infrastructure, too many fall through the cracks.
Community Action For Veterans, aka CAV is ready to meet this moment with solutions proven in our towns; solutions built by South Dakotans, for South Dakotans.
Programs Anchored in Local Culture and Care
Operation Chow Line
Meals, food pantries, and community gatherings in six rural cities where neighbors come together around the table.
Compass Corps
AmeriCorps-supported interns placed in colleges and clinics, helping veterans transition from military life to campus and career.
VetConnect SD
Our statewide referral and navigation backbone, uniting hospitals, providers, and community groups to ensure no wrong door for veterans.
Special Initiatives
Retreats for women veterans, peer-to-peer mentorship, and statewide conferences that blend professional training with direct support.
Who We Serve & Why It Matters
In South Dakota, veterans and their families face unique challenges shaped by distance, weather, and the realities of rural life. CAV exists to stand in the gap serving those who served us, while equipping small towns to become strongholds of support.
We serve:
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Veterans returning home to rural towns and farms, often miles from the nearest VA.
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Families adjusting to life after service, navigating transition together.
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Student veterans balancing classrooms and combat experiences.
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Military-connected women, too often overlooked in traditional veteran programs.
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Small communities eager to help, but lacking coordinated resources.
Corporate Sponsors and Collaborating Partners
Why CAV?
We are different because we are South Dakotans at our core. We know what it means to drive 100 miles for a doctor’s visit or to depend on your neighbor in a blizzard. Our roots run deep in this land, and our solutions are born from listening to the people who live here.
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Grassroots-built: Not from red tape, but from local voices, volunteers, and veterans themselves.
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Proven model: Our pilots — from Operation Chow Line to Compass Corps — have already connected thousands of veterans with meals, mentorship, and real support.
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Statewide backbone: With regional hubs and ambassadors in every county, we’re building infrastructure to last generations.
Praise for Our Work
VA Representative, CAV Conference and VA Expo
“Our goal is to help as many veterans as possible. There is a lot of red tape when it comes to filing claims or enrolling in healthcare. These events help cut through that by accomplishing in one day what might otherwise take months. It can be life changing when a veteran finally gets connected or enrolled.”
CAV Staff Member, Office Walk In
“A visitor came in to share that her spouse had finally been approved for full disability benefits after many years. We discussed options for VA Caregiver Support and helped her take the next steps. That kind of local guidance made a big difference.”
CAV Staff Member, Family Outreach Event
“One parent told us they were a veteran and preferred the phrase Thank you for your sacrifice. They shared that they were 100 percent service connected and we were able to provide Vet Center information and connect them with additional support.”
Join the Mission, Shape the Future
For Donors & Grantmakers
Your investment keeps veterans and families connected to food, healthcare, education, and hope in the places they already call home. Together, we can build a model for rural America that lasts long beyond today.
For Volunteers
Become the trusted neighbor every veteran deserves. From helping at an Operation Chow Line event to serving as an ambassador in your county, your involvement keeps this mission alive at the local level.
