Fair offers disadvantaged kids exclusive access - KOTA Territory News

Fair offers disadvantaged kids exclusive access

For most kids, the Central State's fair is the highlight of a carefree summer.
But for others, it's a chance for fun they rarely get in their troubled young lives.

Many kids from the black hills children's home have been abused and neglected.
But on Wednesday, they're getting the chance to enjoy themselves one ride at a time, with no waiting.

Thanks to the Black Hills Stock Show Foundation and Carnival Americana, roughly 50 members of the carnival staff opened up their rides two hours early.

Sixty kids will had access to every single ride on the fair grounds, and it costing fair organizers about $2,500 dollars in labor and fuel costs.

Those who work with the kids say, an event like this is something often off-limits to kids in the children's home.
 
"Because of the fair and the exposure, we would never be able to bring them here. Its once in a lifetime for them," said Ella Shafer of the Black Hills Children's Home.

Eight children in the group were from a local emergency shelter.

Black Hills Children's Home staff say, unfortunately their services are in high demand, and there's often a waiting list for children aged 4 to 14 to be placed in their care.