Lakota Friends Circle Summer/Fall 2022 Newsletter
LFC and our partner groups worked together this summer providing kids with clothing, shoes, books and some outdoor toys and activities. Summer was relatively quiet on the Rez but families did attend the Pow Wows and Sundances. As soon as the summer needs were filled, group members began working on school clothing, socks, underwear and school supplies so students would have everything they needed to start the new school year in August. Now that fall is in full swing, groups are busy sending warm blankets, coats, clothing and accessories to families so they’re ready for winter when it arrives (PR had snow in October!).
The in kind donations organizations received from our partner groups are a great help for a family’s daily needs, but your monetary donations to LFC allow us to fund ongoing monthly shipments of baby formula, diapers and wipes, food, toiletries and to fulfill any emergency needs such as propane, utility bills, fuel, etc. that local programs cannot afford. Although LFC was originally founded to assist those in need on Pine Ridge, your continued, generous support has allowed us to expand our reach to Rosebud and Yankton Sioux Reservations as well. There are a lot of very happy students (and staff) at Marty Indian School that are reaping the benefits of your kind hearts as are clients of all the programs we serve. Some of those benefits are detailed in the update below. Please be sure to read or reread the Spring 2022 newsletter for a full picture of what we’ve been able to do this year with your help.
Yankton Sioux Reservation
Marty Indian Elementary School Is located on the Yankton Sioux Reservation in southeast South Dakota. LFC along with our partner groups are beginning our sixth year working with this wonderful group of students and staff. Students didn’t return to school until April due to high Covid rates so most attended summer school in June to work on improving their reading and math scores. Funding has once again been cut to the school so they can only provide snacks three days a week, LFC is covering the other two days. Your donations have allowed LFC to open an account at the local grocery store in Armour, SD where meat, dairy products and fresh fruit and veggies can be purchased to provide Marty’s 70+ students with healthy and substantial snacks that they need to focus in class. We are working with two very dedicated teachers that are instrumental to this program’s success. They shop and pick up food on their own time for the snack program and then coordinate the distribution to all the students in grades K-5. Thank you teachers and donors!
One of our partner groups, Sew For Kids, is beginning the sixth year of their Room Parent Program. Two group members volunteer to sponsor a class (K-5) for the school year providing resources for teachers and students. Other group members pitch in and help if needed and also send clothing, shoes, underwear, toys, school supplies, etc. to the Buffalo Shop where students shop using “Buffalo Bucks” they earn by demonstrating Dakota values which are Praying, Respect, Caring & Compassion, Honesty & Truth, Generosity & Caring, Humility, and Wisdom, or by finishing their homework or performing good deeds. Students in grades 3 to 5 work as cashiers in the store where they learn how to run a cash register, count money and stock shelves.
Group members made Halloween special for the kids this year by sending plenty of costumes, treat bags, snacks and party decorations for the big day and one generous room parent paid for a pizza party for all the kids. This month room parents will be busy working on Christmas gifts for their classes and other members of SFK will be busy with stocking the Buffalo Shop with gift items so students can shop for their families for Christmas. Many warm blankets, coats, shoes and boots have already been sent to Marty but members will continue sending those items along with any other requests they may receive.
In addition to funding the Snack Program, LFC purchases items for special events such as graduation parties and we recently bought new shelving, racks and shopping baskets for the Buffalo Shop and some new outdoor toys for recess. We also purchase toiletries and laundry detergent as the school has a washer and dryer to launder students’ clothing while they’re at school. Our upcoming plans are to help teachers stock a resource library with teaching materials of their choosing which can be shared with all the elementary teachers. We may also be purchasing reading level books for the reading specialist this year. .
Rosebud Indian Reservation
Rosebud Elementary School, located on Rosebud Reservation, has been a special focus of interest for partner group “For The Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud”. Every year members of this very generous and talented group provide school supplies, seasonal clothing, blankets, toiletries, shoes and Christmas gifts for the 300+ students at this elementary school. Most members are knitters and/or crocheters so are able to make beautiful afghans, hats, scarves and mittens for the kids and for many others as well. Their generosity knows no bounds and members support all the areas LFC serves in addition to programs of their own. Our thanks to this group for their support of these students and to everyone in need.
RST Maternal and Child Health is a tribal program that serves 30+ women with high risk pregnancies before giving birth and for 2 years after delivery. They provide education, health checks, immunizations and essential needs for babies such as layettes, diaper bags, diapers, formula, etc. Partner groups help provide layettes and diaper bags for the babies and toiletries and small gift items for moms that nurses sometimes use as incentives. LFC provides year round monthly deliveries of diapers and wipes, formula, diaper cream and toiletries for women and babies through donations to the baby program.
Pine Ridge Reservation
Bright Start is a home visiting program of the Office of Child and Family Services in the Department of Health. Registered nurses meet with at risk families during pregnancy and until their child turns 2 years of age. They provide prenatal, maternal, infant and toddler health assessments, health and safety education, parent support, developmental screening, and links to community resources.
LFC and partner groups work with RN Mary Mousseau on Pine Ridge Reservation. She has between 20 to 30 clients, many are in their teens and first time mothers with no experience or resources for their baby, some are even living without water or utilities. Having adequate resources for babies reduces the likelihood of child abuse in young, frustrated mothers. Mary says her clients are absolutely thrilled to have the proper clothing and supplies for their babies, books they can read to their children and toys for their kids they couldn’t otherwise afford. Our partner groups help provide these resources – clothing, books, toys, diaper bags and toiletries and small gifts for mothers while LFC provides year round monthly shipments of diapers and wipes, formula, diaper cream, and toiletries for moms and babies through donations to the baby program.
Children in Need of Care – Gathering Our Children Home is a facility located in Porcupine that provides safe and loving care for children that have been removed from their homes by Child Protective Services due to child abuse and/or neglect. The facility is licensed to care for a maximum of 12 children and sadly, they’re full most of the time. Kids come and go but many stay longer than the maximum time allowed if there is no other place for them to go. Finding a foster home or placement with a relative takes time and often neither are available. Some of the children are disabled and many are young babies which both require more staff as they require more care. CPS pays employee salaries through the state daily allotment per child, but many times they are late with their payments so another problem for the home to solve. Sometimes they use workers from the tribal program (paid by the tribe) that receive additional training from the home staff.
LFC has spent the better part of this year helping founder Barb Dull Knife with reinstating their 501c3 status, updating their licensing policies and getting a new budget established with CPS. Your generous contributions have allowed LFC to hire an attorney and consultant to oversee all the legal matters so this facility can get back to operating as a 501c3 and start applying for grants and other financial resources. Several organizations are helping the home with electric bills, food and other day to day operating costs. LFC pays for phone and internet service, provides gift cards for gas and perishable food such as milk and eggs and sends regular monthly shipments of diapers, formula, snacks, office supplies, toilet paper, laundry detergent and cleaning supplies while another organization covers their utilities. Propane and food expenses are shared by other benefactors or our organization steps in to help if needed. In addition to sending monetary donations to LFC, our partner groups provide clothing, toys, school supplies, books, birthday and Christmas gifts and many other needs for the children. LFC recently purchased a new changing table, a baby walker and an area rug so babies would have something soft to crawl on. This home provides a safe haven for these children and we really need your help to keep it open, it is currently LFC’s number one priority.
Wild Horse Butte CDC in Martin held a “Back to School Bash” with the park district on August 1st where they had games for the kids, gave out school supplies and tried to emphasize the positive aspects of going back to school. Counselors and child advocates had an information booth educating the public about child abuse and the resources that are available if they need help. Partner groups sent lots of clothing, toiletries, baby supplies,school supplies and socks and underwear over the summer and are now focusing on warmer clothing, blankets and bedding, boots and shoes and warm accessories. Some group members made blankets for the area Head Start program (about 50 students) and also sent stuffed animals and lots of books so teachers have new stories to read every day. Groups are currently working on Christmas gifts for youth 0-18 for the annual holiday party held in December. LFC sends monthly recurring shipments of diapers and wipes, diaper cream, formula and toiletries for clients visiting the CDC office and Sacred Shawl.
Sacred Shawl Shelter is serving domestic abuse cases and homeless women. The staff participated in a parade held in Martin this past May that focused on domestic abuse and violence against women and the extremely high number of missing and murdered indigenous women on reservations in the US and Canada. The murder rate is 10 times higher than the national average for native women living on indian reservations and is their third leading cause of death. LFC was able to purchase toiletries that were given out at the parade made possible by your contributions. Toiletries continue to be one of the most requested items, especially by women and teens. LFC has supported and will continue to support area programs that focus on education and the wellbeing of women and children.
Partner groups recently replaced all of the sheets and towels at the Sacred Shawl Shelter. Their bedding was simply worn out with all the heavy use and any extras they had were sent home with clients during the Covid outbreak. LFC provides the shelter with shipments of toiletries, laundry soap, and cleaning supplies as needed.
Wanblee Child/Youth and Elder Program is directed by Jerome and Theresa High Horse. Partner groups recently sent party supplies for the Halloween party hosted by Jerome and Theresa. Partner groups have been sending blankets, clothing and warm accessories and will now add Christmas gifts to their shipments. Jerome and his Woodchucks are back to cutting wood for the 30+ homes in the community that have wood stoves.
Jerome and his crew have finally placed and stabilized the trailers your donations helped move to Wanblee more than 2 years ago. We’ve heard that someone lived in one of the trailers without utilities, water or sewer. Originally the trailers were donated to the tribe from North Dakota when the oil fields shut down and they were no longer needed. Jerome was given 3 trailers, which our donors paid to move, but there was delay after delay due to weather or other reasons. They will need water, sewer and electric service which LFC will be able to pay for due to a very generous donation from Zion United Church of Christ.
LFC will no longer be involved in building/remodeling (including moving trailers), wood cutting or any other activities that might cause bodily injury as our insurance company will no longer insure us unless we pay an exorbitant premium which we will not do. We are insured for all the other activities we do for the organizations we serve. We can still send items to the Woodchucks to keep them warm and provide any needs families have that move into one of the trailers.
Ruby’s Homeless Program – Ruby has had to slow down at age 80 due to some health issues but she still does some cooking for the homeless at her church and partner group “For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud” continues to send food, blankets, toiletries and clothing for her to distribute to the homeless. Their generous group members have donated funds to LFC for repairs to her trailer floor, kitchen cabinets, utility bills and a new air conditioner this summer which she really needed due to her heart condition. Ruby has done so much for her people over the years. She used money from her own SS checks to buy food and cook for the homeless, most of the time with no help, but now she needs some help at this stage of her life. For The Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud and LFC will continue their support of Ruby’s program.
Veterans Home and OST Lakota Nursing Home – Are two more programs supported by “For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud”. They serve the 13 male residents residing at the Pine Ridge Veterans Home by sending toiletries and cleaning supplies through donations to LFC. Members also send clothing and each resident receives a Christmas gift every year. The group is busy working on making blankets to send to the 30+ residents of the Oglala Sioux Lakota Nursing Home in Nebraska just south of Pine Ridge.
Maggie’s House, located in Pine Ridge, serves young adults 17-24 needing some supervision to get their lives back in order after dealing with substance abuse and/or homelessness. The facility is in an old building and they’ve had to make major electrical and plumbing repairs that have prevented them from opening. The latest problem is with the heating system so opening has been delayed once again. Clients are receiving assistance from the staff 3 days a week they’re just not able to move in yet. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the heating issues can be repaired quickly before winter weather sets in.
Scholarship Program
LFC awarded two scholarships this year, one to a returning student beginning his second year of studying Civil Engineering at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City and a new student studying Construction Technologies at Southeast Community College in Milford, Nebraska. Your donations provided $1000 to each of these deserving students. We will review each student’s needs at the end of the year and give you all a report on their progress. We still have funds in the budget for more scholarships so hopefully word will get out about the program and more students will apply.
Bombas Socks Donation – We received a very generous donation of 3000 pairs of socks from the Bombas Sock Company. This is our 4th year receiving socks for both kids and adults which have helped so many families in the areas we serve. We are very grateful for the company’s continuing support.
Giving Tuesday is November 29, 2022 and coincides with South Dakota Day of Giving. This day of giving and sharing is Lakota Friends Circle’s major fundraiser for the year. We don’t have a fundraising staff or program or solicit donations from our donors unless we have a special need. Instead we rely on the generosity of supporters that believe in the work that we do.The LFC Board has decided this year to focus their efforts on raising funds to purchase a van for the Children in Need of Care facility and to have funds available for emergency propane needs. The children’s home really needs a safe, reliable vehicle to transport children to school and medical and court appointments. Employees are using their own vehicles, which are not the most reliable, and are a safety issue when staff (women) are driving across remote areas of the Rez with babies and young children.
If you have a van or know of someone that has a dependable van to either donate or sell at a reasonable price please contact Carol. Last year we matched funds with another charitable organization so Maggie’s House in Pine Ridge could buy a vehicle for their needs. Dependable transportation is a huge need on the Rez, nothing is right around the corner and cars always seem to need repair or they’re out of gas. Bus service runs twice a day and doesn’t meet the needs of many residents because of their limited hours of operation and service area.
Heating costs are going to be a big issue this year due to the increased cost of food and fuel. LIHEAP funds are available but must be applied for and are on a first come first serve basis. The benefit is usually once per season and is based on the number of occupants per household and their monthly income. Most families live in poorly insulated, drafty homes in various states of disrepair which increases the need for more propane. Partner groups send blankets every year along with warm clothing, boots and accessories but they can only go so far in an unheated home. The population most at risk are diabetics, the disabled, elderly or the very young. We would love to have funds available to respond to emergency needs.
Lakota Friends Circle is so very grateful for the partnership and support of the groups that work under our umbrella, Sew For Kids, For the Children of Pine Ridge and Rosebud, Halfknits, Pine Ridge Elders and to each and every donor that contributes to LFC throughout the year. Our goal is to help families with basic needs and we support programs on the Rez that move people forward. Your donations last year accomplished so much and many families benefited from your kindness. We would like to continue that work in 2023 and beyond and are asking for your support once again.
We welcome donations of any amount, no donation is too small, every little bit helps us reach our goal. You can make donations to LFC through Paypal at https://paypal.me/LakotaFriendsCircle We will be posting information about Giving Tuesday on our LFC Facebook page through November.