Have you ever been cold in your own home with no options of warming up other than sleeping in your car?
Me neither and I cannot imagine. The people of Pine Ridge Reservation are desperately in need of firewood to heat their homes. Right here, right now YOU can help!
Donate anything you can spare, no amount too small. Your contribution will be life changing for many people struggling through a bitter cold winter with little or no heat.
Share this with your friends, family and neighbors. Please include a personal note requesting a minimal donation. With your help, we can make a difference.
Short term goal—secure enough wood for this season, and supply gear needed to cut, split and deliver to homes.
Long-term goal—no more heat crisis on Pine Ridge Reservation. We are starting a wood program that will allow wood to be stockpiled during the summer for use the following winter. We also want people to be able to have wood for heat before they run out or before a winter storm creates panic as they face below-zero temperatures.
The Lakota have lived with this condition for as long as any of them can remember. Yesterday an elder gentleman walked more than 10 miles to get to the One Spirit distribution building to see if he could get stove pipes for an old stove he found. The pipes were bought and taken to a trailer where he was living. His plan was to have the pipes put on the stove and then have the pipes go out the window. There was no back door on his place and most of the windows could not be closed.
An elderly couple offered their food stamps to a One Spirit wood program in return for some wood for heat. A family home that shelters 13 members was without heat. Another family was burning clothes when the wood was delivered.
The stories continue… Enough is enough.
Right now One Spirit has less than 10 people cutting, splitting wood and delivering to homes per pickup load. They are working with two wood splitters, two chain saws and one set of safety gear. Men are going out to cut wood in zero weather conditions with only sneakers, no gloves, and coats that do not provide warmth.
Please donate and share all over social media where you can and remember to ask your friends to do the same.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sarah Hamilton, Gunflint Trail
Jeri Baker, director, One Spirit
Funds will be
distributed by One Spirit
nativeprogress.org/en/
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