What happens to your donations when you drop them off at Goodwill? Join Tami & Jake from Goodwill of the Great Plains as they talk with local environmental leaders on the Sustainable Steps podcast. From the behind-the-scenes environmental work going on at Goodwill to easy ways you can go green at home or work - saving the planet starts with you taking a few easy "Sustainable Steps."
Nature, Trails and Wild Edibles: Exploring Plymouth County Conservation
Plymouth County is connecting communities with the great outdoors and making nature accessible to all!
In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jake Heller head to Hillview Recreation Area near Hinton, Iowa, to talk with naturalists Victoria DeVos and Morgan Sauer about conservation, community programs and the unique ways you can experience the local landscape.
In this episode:
Hillview's Hidden Playground: Everything the 300-plus-acre recreation area offers, from miles of hiking, horse and mountain biking trails to a 9-hole loop disc golf course, a fishing pond and winter tubing hills!
Expanding Outreach: How Plymouth County Conservation uses everything from Ice Age artifact presentations and cabin escape rooms to school field trips and night hikes to get people of all ages outdoors.
Wild Edibles & More: Creative community classes to turn nature into your pantry, featuring dandelion jelly, stinging nettle preparation, garlic mustard pesto and elderberry syrup.
To learn more about upcoming public events, camping reservations or volunteer days at Hillview, check out the Plymouth County Conservation website (https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Plymouth) or visit their official Facebook page.
To learn more about the job training, placement and recycling programs offered by Goodwill of the Great Plains, please visit https://www.goodwillgreatplains.org.
The Sustainable Steps Podcast is brought to us each week thanks to a generous grant from the Gilchrist Foundation.
27 Aug 2026
A house full of heart - Inside the Ronald McDonald House Siouxland
RMHC doesn't just stand for Ronald McDonald House Charities – for thousands of families in Siouxland beyond, it stands for a place that keeps families together through medical journeys!
In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami Koenigs and Jacob Heller are on location at the Ronald McDonald House Siouxland in Sioux City, Iowa, where they sit down with Director Christy Clark to learn how a simple thought inspired a global movement.
In this episode, we'll learn:
Heart of the House: How the Ronald McDonald House provides essentials, removes barriers and creates a "home away from home" so families can stay close to their children during medical treatment.
Food for Thought (and Care!): The scope of the hospital kitchen and lunch programs, delivering thousands of hearty meals, snacks and home-cooked frozen options to local emergency rooms and hospital units each year.
Community Connection & Pop Tabs, Too: Easy ways to get involved, from decorating artistic, encouraging lunch bags and donating in-kind goods to saving pop tabs for recycling to help fund family lodging.
To learn more about staying at the house, volunteering or attending upcoming events like the Bubble Walk and the Red Shoe Shindig, check out the Ronald McDonald House Siouxland website or find the group on Facebook and Instagram.
To find out more about the programs and services offered by Goodwill of the Great Plains, please visit goodwillgreatplains.org.
The Sustainable Steps podcast is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Gilchrist Foundation.
13 Aug 2026
Building Community and Connections: How the Junior League of Sioux City Empowers Women
In this episode of Sustainable Steps, Tami and Jake talk with Samantha Roth, Treasurer of the Junior League of Sioux City, to hear how the group's projects, ranging from a free 'School Period Pantry' to a boutique-style thrift shop, empower women and build connections.
In this episode, we'll learn:
Discover the Discovery Shop: How the Junior League's W. 7th Street thrift shop helps pay for projects and grants that make a big difference in the Sioux City area.
Prom Purpose: The story behind the group's spring prom fundraiser, bringing local businesses together for a night of high school nostalgia to help pay for local community projects.
Flexible Membership: How a one-year commitment, 12 hours of annual shop volunteering and monthly meetings make it easy for local women to dive in, network and give back.
If you'd like to visit the Junior League's Discovery Shop, it's open Wednesday - Saturday from 10:00 am – 5:00 pm at 316 W. 7th St. in Sioux City.
If you'd like to learn more about joining the Junior League, visit its website or visit the Junior League of Sioux City Facebook page.
To find out more about the programs and services offered by Goodwill of the Great Plains, please visit goodwillgreatplains.org.
The Sustainable Steps podcast is made possible thanks to a generous grant from the Gilchrist Foundation.
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