Dakota Boys and Girls received $2,000 from Capital Electric’s Operation Round Up Program. This donation will be used towards the cost of the Greenhouse and Gardening Program at the Ranch’s psychiatric, residential, and educational facility in Bismarck.
At the Ranch, gardening teaches children invaluable life skills, educates them about the growing process, and creates a fulfilling recreational experience. Most of the children who come to the Ranch have never had the opportunity to care for and grow plants. They come from situations of abuse, neglect, and/or trauma. For many of them, gardening is a relaxing activity they can use as a "therapeutic tool" to deal with life challenges and stressors.
In addition, the children witness and experience the full growing process by consuming the herbs and vegetables at meals and snacks. They also see the result of their care and dedication in the flowers distributed around the Ranch. This instills responsibility in Ranch children, provides a de-stressing activity, and produces tangible results.
Capital Electric began Operation Round Up in 1997 to help individuals and organizations around its service area meet their financial needs. This program functions by “rounding up” electric bills of participating Capital Electric customers to be donated to qualified applicants. This allows for many deserving programs, groups, projects, and persons in need to have receive the funding they need.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch is a Christian residential treatment and educational center for children and their families. We help the most troubled, complicated and amazing kids by providing best-in-class psychiatric therapy and trauma-informed care, where we look kids in the eye, walk with them, and help them become their best selves. In addition to Residential Treatment Facilities in Fargo, Bismarck, and Minot, the Ranch provides Outpatient Psychiatric and Psychological Services, and Spiritual Life Programs. Our on-campus school, Dakota Memorial School (DMS), provides a personalized education for kids who have psychiatric, behavioral and trauma issues.