Just under a month ago, I wrote a 'Thanksgiving' diary, asking folks to donate to the Okiciyap ('We Help') food pantry on the Cheyenne River Reservation. It wasn't the first Okiciyap diary onsite, but the fund drive hadn't really taken off for the year, and if I recall correctly, the fund sat at around 2% of its $20k goal.
Since then, thanks to Okiciyap diaries, comments, sigs, and mentions in other diaries, such as the propane drive diaries, the donors of this site have given more than $5500 more to the fund, and as of today, it hit $6000 collected. This is an amazing amount, and is actually very close to an important milestone. Follow below the squiggle for more :)
Here's what betson08 has posted in several of her diaries... Notice the number I've highlighted...
Right now they are working out of a trailer lent them by a board member, but a 30x60 building has been donated. All they have to do is take it to Isabel. Here's the breakout of what it will take a bigger pantry up and going. It's really not much. Then Georgia will write grants for the youth program.
Moving the Building
Transport 30 miles $7000.00
Building forms to set building down $2500.00
Skirting of building and new ramp $2500.00
Total $12,000.00
This will be done by a contractor that knows how to transport the building and is a professional and will set and put the building together when it gets to Isabel. The Build of the forms will be done by a cement contractor Jackson’s cement out of Timer Lake SD. The skirting and Ramps will be done by volunteers with the SD specification of disability Ramps.
YOUR DONATION IS TAX-DEDUCTIBLE
If you would prefer to send a check:
Georgia Little Shield, Board Chair
Okiciyap
PO Box 172
225 W. Utah St
Isabel SD57633
You can also send clothing donations to the food pantry.
While we raise this money don't think they're just sitting around. This is a serious grassroots organization that is functioning on a shoestring.
That's right, we're 85% of the way towards the money needed to actually move the building. We've already had several $1000 donors step up to the plate, and I will be surprised to see that happen again, but it certainly would be fantastic if we could hit the $7000 milestone by New Years, or even before Christmas. (The $9500 milestone would be even more fantastic, but I'll keep my Christmas wish a bit more modest.)
If you're tapped out, trust me, I understand. People around here have been gifting right and left, and many of us are looking at uncertain new years. But if you lucked into an unexpected bonus at work, and want to throw a bit at a good cause for karma, this is certainly your chance. If your boss is playing pre-ghost Scrooge, though, we'll take all the good wishes and thoughts we can get too :)