| 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.
However, just because she had to stop working full time didn't mean she stopped trying to help her community. Now she and a group of women have formed a 501 c3 (official nonprofit) to run a food pantry and youth programs.
The winters on many Indian reservations are terrible, not just because of the cold, but because of 80-95% unemployment. Here's what Georgia has said about the situation:
The families around our reservations are on fixed incomes of 260.00 to 460.00 per month. This is per month. The people on the reservation fight to survive each month and the winters are so brutal that this is when we would need the food pantry more then at any other time of the year.
The food pantry has already started working on an ad hoc basis. Right now they are working out of a trailer lent them by a board member, and have obtained some food donations.
Recently, a 30x60 building was donated but it is currently 30 miles from Isabel, where the project is located. They have to bring it back to Isabel, and hook it up to utility services.
Here's the breakout of what that's going to cost:
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.
Utilities:
One year Electricity $3000.00
One year water and sewer $780.00
One year Propane and Tank set up $1800.00
Hook up to the to Town sewer and
Water pipes $2000.00
Total $7580.00
We are requesting a one year utility for the building and when this year is up we should be able to have funds raised and applied for grants to run the building. We will need to get hooked into the city sewer and water so we will have this done by the city.
Total amount requested $19,580.00
Notice how they left out a computer and internet service? I rounded the figure to $20,000.
Here's the group at work already:
Here's their website Okiciyap, where you can go to get more information.
To donate by credit card, just click on this ChipIn:
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 that address.
They're starting from scratch from the grassroots. Lets give them a hand.
No dough, but willingness to help? Write some diaries on this with us!
Also, don't forget that propane fundraiser that Navajo started....if you can do a little of both that would be great, but we are thankful for any help you can give for either one.
Nobody in the richest country in the world should be hungry or cold. These are small projects yes, but the services they provide makes a big difference in the lives of the people receiving them...and that means that even $5 makes a difference.
Here's information on donating money for propane and/or propane heaters. The easiest way is to pick up the phone and call the company Navajo is working with, but there are other ways too:
Telephone:
Sherry Cornelius of St. Francis Energy Co.
at 6 0 5 - 7 4 7 - 2 5 4 2
11 AM - 6 PM MST EVERY DAY
Ask for Sherry or her mom Patsy. Normally a minimum order is $150, but they have an account to accumulate small donations to a minimum order. Credit Cards welcome and they are the only Native owned fuel company on Rosebud. Rosebud is next to Pine Ridge Reservation and in the same economically depressed condition.
If you'd like to mail a check: [make check payable to: St. Francis Energy Co.]
Attn: Sherry or Patsy
St. Francis Energy Co. / Valandra's II
P.O. Box 140
St. Francis, South Dakota 57572
NOT tax deductible
http://sfec.yolasite.com/
We're grateful for any assistance you can provide this holiday season, whether writing diaries on this or donating. Thank you to Dr. Erich Bloodaxe for starting this up again at DKos on Thanksgiving.
This is a community of helpers, so let's help (we help).
|
In honor of my mother, 
