Coronavirus hasn’t killed the Dairy Queen Miracle Treat Day, but it has forced South Dakota’s Dairy Queen owners to significantly change their annual fundraiser for the Children’s Miracle Network… right down to the name of the event:
DeLon Mork regrets that due to a corporate decision, the Madison Dairy Queen will not be hosting a community celebration this year to raise funds for the Children’s Miracle Network.
However, that isn’t going to stop him — or other Dairy Queens in South Dakota — from raising money for the nonprofit.
“They agreed to let South Dakota do an event, but we can’t call it Miracle Treat Day,” he said.
To raise money for the Children’s Miracle Network this year, the Madison Dairy Queen will be hosting South Dakota Sweet Miracles on July 30. On that day, and in the days leading up to South Dakota Sweet Miracles, the Dairy Queen will be selling coupons for their signature Blizzards with $1 or more from each sale going to the Children’s Miracle Network.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Dairy Queen is approaching the fund-raising event differently this year. The restaurant lobby will not be open. There will be no concert or outside games.
“Dairy Queen recommended against any large gatherings,” Mork explained [Mary Gales Askren, “Dairy Queen Fund-Raiser Has New Look, New Name,” Madison Daily Leader, 2020.07.13].
Mork has been a national leader in turning the CMN fundraiser into a huge community event (See my all-day coverage of Madison’s 2007 Miracle Treat Day here). But much as he would enjoy packing his store and the whole block with community-minded customers on July 30, Mork understands we need to find ways to come together without coming coming together amidst coronavirus. South Dakota Sweet Miracles is about helping sick kids and families, not putting more kids in the hospital.
Children’s Miracle Network supports sick kids and their families with donations to pay for medical equipment, treatment, and family expenses. If you’d like to help now and snack later, you can pre-order Blizzards for pickup at 24 South Dakota DQs (Madison, Huron, Aberdeen, and Pierre DQs will also deliver in town) and buy Blizzard coupons through the Sanford Health Foundation website.