It has become a tradition here on the Daily Kos to support American Indian projects during the holiday season. We started a bit later this year, but yesterday, NMRed, posted this outstanding challenge diary to raise money for a food pantry on the Cheyenne River Reservation and for propane and propane heaters to keep keep folks on the Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservations warm.
We reached NMRed's goal, but we still have quite a ways to go on the Okiciyap fundraiser, and people will be needing heating assistance all winter.
In fact here's her update from this morning:
NMRed
Wed Dec 14, 2011 at 6:52 AM PT: I awoke to messages from two people who have purchased heaters while I was sleeping! That makes 4 heaters donated since I wrote this diary yesterday morning. I'm so thankful to you all. Gotta go to the doctor's now for some old-person tests that mean I can't eat or drink until they're over, so I'll be back in a few hours and will write some more. I may even reprise this diary for another 24 hours and see if we can get two more heaters to meet my challenge and a couple hundred more recs so I'm sending Sherry out with more propane donated by myself and others this week.
I hear those bells ringing with ever rec and comment, and the angels are singing with joy for the kindness of so many.
So how about helping us keep up the momentum that really started to build yesterday!? If you have to buy a gift, how about buying a propane heater in somebody's name, or some food for the food pantry in somebody else's name?
A little cash strapped? How about writing one of these diaries to generate some money from others? All efforts are important and greatly appreciated.
Read below for more information on both projects.
And thanks to those who have donated.
The pantry is being run by an organization called Okiciyap (we help) the Isabel community, founded by Georgia Little Shield, the former director of Pretty Bird Woman House. She was the reason that shelter was so successful, but she couldn't remain in that stressful position due to poor health.
Georgia, now on disability, didn't even have enough money to get a turkey for her own family for Thanksgiving. So this doesn't repeat on Christmas, she is trying to make sure many families have enough food for a proper dinner. With enough donations, they can move a larger trailer that has been donated to them, but which is 30 miles away, and also start a youth development program to address the epidemic of suicide.
Navajo started the propane donation program a few years ago and it has been a lifesaver to so many families.
More below the squiggle.
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