South Haven News

By Claire Minor

On Mar. 5, 2025, the Heart of South Haven Community Foundation spoke at South Haven Schools for the entire high school during Cardinal Time. If you are unfamiliar with the foundation, they basically take care of the importance of the community by volunteering and community service.

The leaders of the foundation are Sadie Dugan, Kayla Betzen, and Jordan Blaylock. The reason why they created the foundation was because the small town of South Haven didn’t really have anything in place to help out in a big way. They initially started the foundation because they just wanted to have a Fall Fest, so they all came together and started planning the event. They decided to make something bigger out of it, and that is exactly what they did.

They then created the foundation and decided that they would come up with a list of things that would be a part of their mission. Some of those things include community events, scholarships to senior students, opportunities to help families in need during the holidays, community cleanups, and town beautification.

They started by calling five volunteers to answer some simple would you rather questions. The questions were strictly about different ways you could volunteer to help your community. Some examples of those volunteering options were a food drive, organizing a community cleanup, participating in a blood drive, or even tutoring students.

Some of the advantages of community service are:

• Enhancing community spirit and cooperation
• Development of leadership skills and problem solving
• Boosting resumes and career prospects
• It gives your future employers a reason to set you apart from others when it comes to finding a job

After the leaders further introduced themselves, they split all of the students into three groups and asked them to come up with some ideas that the foundation could do later on (if at all possible). Some of the ideas that the groups came up with was a Dollar General, a wreck center, a splash pad, yard cleanup, tearing down abandoned buildings, and some beautification, like putting up lights, planting flowers, and fixing up the sidewalks.

TO OUR SENIOR STUDENTS!: The deadline for applications is March 15! It is a simple application with a few short and simple paragraph answers. It is basically free money for college!

South Haven Schools would like to thank the Heart of South Haven for coming to speak at South haven Schools!

The Heart of South Haven is excited to announce their newest project of installing three new, big, beautiful “Welcome To South Haven” signs that come South, North, and West of South Haven. They are asking for some support to make this project happen. ALL donations—no matter the size–will be put toward enhancing the visual identity of the town of South Haven.

Donation Options:

• $100 – A personal thank-you card from the Heart of South Haven Community Foundation, recognition on social media and South Haven New Era (unless done so anonymously)
• $500 – A special acknowledgment on the welcome signs as a key supporter, plus all benefits listed above.
• $1000 – Recognition as a founding sponsor on the signs, plus all benefits listed above.

All donors are cordially invited to join the Heart of South Haven Annual Gala on September 20, 2025. If you have any questions, or if you’d like to discuss the projects in more detail, you can contact the foundation with the information below.

The Heart of South Haven Community Foundation
Phone: (620) 440-6751
Email: heartofsouthhaven@gmail.com
P.O. Box 294 South Haven, KS 67140