LFC 2021 Report

2021 proved to be another successful year for Lakota Friends Circle, your continued support of LFC allows us to fund Lakota led programs on Pine Ridge, Rosebud and Yankton Sioux Indian Reservations in South Dakota. Thanks to you we were able to raise $50,351.15 last year which gave us the funds to purchase food, propane, school supplies, diapers and formula, appliances, beds and mattresses, furniture, toiletries and other personal care items, and pay utility bills for the organizations we serve. Your generosity also funded our new LFC Scholarship Program.

Lakota Friends Circle works in partnership with Sew For Kids, For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud Reservations, Pine Ridge Elders, and Halfknits.  Members of these organizations made blankets, quilts and afghans, sweaters, hats, mittens, scarves, summer and school clothing, pillowcases, crib sheets, toys, tote bags and Christmas gifts.  They sent school supplies, food, toiletries, pillows, sheets, towels, toys, books, socks and underwear, boots and shoes, coats and other warm clothing. Their donations to the areas we serve were well over $30,000 last year. The members of these wonderful groups comprise the backbone of support to LFC and are the reason we’ve been able to serve those in need.  Thank you all for helping make life a little easier for the Lakota people. 

Your donations made the following possible:

Wanblee Community

1. Repaired and licensed trailers to be used for food pick up and deliveries.   
2. Repaired and purchased parts for chainsaws used in the wood program.
3. Purchased fuel for food pick up and deliveries and to deliver donations from our partner groups.
4. Wanblee received monthly shipments from Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save” containing diapers, shampoo, body wash, incontinence briefs and denture cleaner.   

Maggie’s House

1. Purchased a new stove and refrigerator to replace their old ones. Their old ones are already in use on Standing Rock Reservation.
2. Purchased a new microwave oven.
3. New freezer has been purchased but still on backorder.
4. Kitchenware including pots and pans, dishes, and teapot.
5. 3 queen bed mattresses and box springs.
6. 3 twin beds with frames and mattresses.
7. Purchased 5 dressers and 6 table lamps.
8. Pillows, pillow covers and mattress covers.
9. Fruit trees will be planted in the spring, funds already donated.
10. 2 laptops to be purchased once center opens, funds already donated.

Children in Need Of Care Center (formerly Gather Our Children Home) 

1. Purchased a new front-loading washer and dryer and 2 humidifiers.
2. Purchased picnic tables and outside shade cover for the backyard play area and toys
3. Purchased a bookcase, 2 pantry shelves and 2 tables to sort donations.
4. Purchased 3 new mattresses, covers and pillows for bunk beds.
5. Purchased 1 pack n play, 2 high chairs, 2 booster seats, 1 changing table.
6. Purchased large set of pots and pans, bakeware (cookie sheets, cake pans), cooking utensils, stock pot, cleaning supplies.
7. Purchased Instant Pot pressure cooker.
8. Purchased 4 tablets with headphones for the older kids.
9. Paid for fuel to transport children to appointments (ongoing need) and school and to pick up a child at a Sioux Falls hospital after surgery. 
10. Purchased food to fill their freezer and refrigerator several times during the year including 2 $500 gift cards to Walmart.
11. Provided $300 gift card to Walmart for teen girl in need of shoes and clothing.
12. Provided monthly funds to buy perishables such as milk and eggs locally.
13. Filled their propane tank twice.
14. Paid for phone and internet services for 4 months. LFC will continue to pay for these services until other sources of funding becomes available.
15. Paid salaries for 2 extra staff members for 2 days when CPS funds were late arriving.
16. Purchased printer ink, copy paper and other office supplies.
17. They receive monthly shipments from Amazon’s “Subscribe & Save” containing diapers and pull ups, formula, baby wipes, laundry detergent, dishwasher detergent, baby  shampoo and lotion.

Bright Start

1. Bright Start receives monthly shipments from Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save” program containing diapers, baby wipes, diaper cream, baby lotion, shampoo and laundry detergent.  
2. Purchased tote bags twice to be embroidered by SFK members for distribution to all baby programs.  

Rosebud Sioux Tribe Maternal and Child Health

1. This baby program receives monthly shipments from Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save” program containing diapers, baby wipes, diaper cream, baby lotion and shampoo.

Sacred Shawl Society

1.  Purchased a new freezer for the shelter which is still on backorder.  Funds were provided by members of For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud group.
2. Monthly shipments of formula, diapers, baby wipes and toiletries from Amazon and additional formula from an eBay vendor.

Wild Horse Butte Community Development Corporation 

1. Purchased school supplies for students attending schools in Martin.
2. The CDC receives monthly shipments of baby formula, diapers, baby wipes and toiletries from Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save”.
3. Members of partner groups sent over 300 gifts for teens and additional gifts for kids aged 0-12.

   LFC Scholarship Program

1. Awarded 2 scholarships, one for $1200 to Dustin J studying electrical trades at Western Dakota Tech in Rapid City and one for $1000 to Jarron BH studying Civil Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City.

Ruby’s Homeless Aid Program in Pine Ridge

1. Purchased propane twice for Ruby’s home tank as she prepares food for the homeless there. Funding provided by members of For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud.
2. Provided food vouchers several times for Ruby to purchase supplies to feed the homeless. Funding provided by members of For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud.

Marty Elementary Indian School

1. Provided funding for the purchase of snacks for students K-5. SFK has a room parent program that provides for classroom needs of students K-5.

Rosebud Elementary School

1. Purchased 300 pillows for the students in grades K-5 for Christmas. Funded by members of For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud group. They also provided a pillowcase, stuffed animal, book, blanket and bag of art supplies to each student for Christmas.

Wolf Creek school 

1. Purchased over $150 in school supplies for 5th grade students at Wolf Creek. SFK has room parent volunteers providing for other needs.

White Buffalo Calf Women’s Society

1. Purchase diapers, baby wipes, diaper cream, body wash, shampoo, tooth paste, deodorant and laundry detergent monthly through Amazon’s “Subscribe and Save” program.

For more information about these Lakota organizations, please visit our website and click on the “who we serve” tab at the top of the page. For more information about groups we partner with choose the “partners” tab.