I want to thank everyone for your awesome response, to my Help Okiciyap diary and to let you know how things turned out.
I was so upset; fearing that the children on the Reservations, would suffer and have, a dreary, Holiday.
But now; thanks to all who helped, they will have a wonderful Christmas!
I’ve been writing Okiciyap diaries and blog posts, since I read about them here at DKos quite a few years ago. This link; in addition to being about Okiciyap, has info about incorporating in your state, non-profit organizations. Also; US Small Business Assoc, and more, that potential non-profit organizers and small business owners, need to know.
Latest online, donations total is, $1,000! Some contributors, may have sent checks too. You know; I had that option covered. (I always have my research ready).
♥Thank You, Kossacks♥ Over $500 of it, donated by Kossacks. (I lost track after $500, because after that I shared this on Twitter and FB and other people donated too. I fly all over, in many comments, anywhere possible. Some donors were anonymous or names I don’t recognize).
Donate Directly to Okiciyap by Check:
Okiciyap
PO Box 172
Isabel, SD 57633
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Donate Stuff Directly to Okiciyap:
Okiciyap
506 N Madison Ave
Isabel SD 57633
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Also important, now a lot more people know about Okiciyap and the work they do.
I took the diary to Twitter and Twitter says; “Dec 16 to 22nd, My Tweets earned 6,972 impressions over the last week.” I posted it to Facebook, too.
I learned about The Okiciyap Food Pantry (as well as about Standing Rock and Pine Ridge), here on Daily Kos.
If it wasn’t for Kossacks reporting/diaries, I would have no clue, as to the poverty on our Native American, Reservations.
I contacted the website and spoke to Emily Taylor, who is one of the board members.
I was like; “Hi, I know you may not remember me” (I contacted her previously few years back, to tell her about how to get toys, from Toys For Tots). At Christmas time; Coordinators, with the assistance of local social welfare agencies, church groups, and other local community agencies, distribute the toys to the children of the community. (Request A Toy Get Set Up For Next Year! Call Toys For Tots).
I said, “did you see what just happened? I’m contacting you because, I want to make sure, I’m not hallucinating.”
I said; ”I just wrote a blog and Kossacks and Everyone really came out to support your work.” I gave her the link to my diary.
We continued this conversation back and forth, for about an hour.
Emily is very happy. She said; “Thanks, so much” and told me a little about how badly, Okiciyap needed this!
She said; “We Kossacks, Are, A Blessing!”
Okiciyap; needed the money, at this time in particular. From what she told me I don’t think they’ll be spending it on produce as they would have 3 months ago.
She said things have been very poorly, financially.
That; besides; the over 600 Families they help, (Native and Non-Native), they're to the point, where they were going to do only emergencies at the pantry and shut some things off, like the phone and internet.
The Trailer that the food pantry is in; needs some minor not so expensive, (if one has the money), but necessary repairs. (Emily called it a, double wide modular trailer and said the Tribe owns it and lets the Food Pantry, use it).
She said; They have one wall, where none of the north side electrical plugs, work in the building. That doesn’t sound good.
And they’ve had no water for months. The heat tape underneath on the water pipes shorted out and the water froze up and they, haven't had water since earlier this year. (That’s not good, either).
♥Awarded To: Kossacks And Other, Generous Donors♥
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