The Warmth Project

Under the loving umbrella of Sweetwater Education Foundation, I am honored to direct the Native Children Education Project.....which further sponsors specific project. In this case THE WARMTH PROJECT. Please click "read more" directly below.

Through THE WARMTH PROJECT we collect new or kindly used blankets, coats, hats, shoes, boots, socks, gloves, sweaters, etc. that are delivered to our friends at the Lakota Waldorf School in Pine Ridge. They arrange a big giveaway ceremony in November where needy elders and families can receive what they need to be warm in the bitter cold mid-west winters. This project began in 2006 and has really made a difference in real lives.

The Pine Ridge Reservation may well be the poorest area in our entire nation. These people's dreams are often drowned in doubt and there is not much around that says they are wrong. Due to the extreme poverty, it can be nearly impossible for families to afford food, clothes and shelter or access and pay for fuel for their homes. The population on Pine Ridge has among the shortest life expectancies of any group in the Western Hemisphere: approximately 47 years for males and 52 years for females. The infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average and the adolescent suicide rate is four times the United States national average. As of 2011 the reservation has little economic development or industry, and no banks or discount stores exist on the reservation. Despite the lack of formal employment opportunities on Pine Ridge, a considerable agricultural production is taking place on the reservation, yet only a small percentage of the tribe directly benefit from this. According to the USDA, in 2002 there was nearly $33 million in receipts from agricultural production on Pine Ridge. Less than one-third of that income went to members of the tribe.

Although Pine Ridge is the eighth-largest reservation in the United States, it is also the poorest. Unemployment on the reservation hovers between 80% and 85%, and 49% live below the federal poverty level. Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewage systems and many use wood stoves to heat their homes. Wood is scarce along with trucks, chain saws, etc. When winter sets in hard, the priority is to try to stay warm. Kids don’t go to school. Adults do what they can to find a way to bring heat. Sometimes it is as cold as - 40 degrees!

The stone cold truth is….people just freeze to death in the winter.
You donations for shipping or gifts of blankets and warm clothes can be SO important. If you can help, please contact Christine Leonard. Tax deductible donations can be made on line via Pay-pal.

Sweetwater Education Foundation, NCEP
c/o Christine Leonard
2305-C Ashland Street #149
Ashland, OR 97520
Email: CLeo281807@aol.com

On behalf of the people, many , many thanks,
Christine

SWEETWATER EDUCATION FOUNDATION /Native Children Education Project is a non-profit, tax exempt organization under section 501(C) 3 in the Internal Revenue Code. All contributions are tax deductible as allowed by the IRS.