Please send brand new socks, underwear, coats, snow boots, clothing for teenagers and young children. Notebooks, pens, folders, puzzles, markers, arts & crafts projects, stickers, scrapbooking projects, children's DVD's, coloring books, reading incentive books, little prizes for points earned for reading, toys for ages 6-12, fabric for sewing projects, cone thread, summer clothing for the kids.

The needs are the same as in the past. Please continue to support the Emergency Children's Shelter as they are in touch with all of the areas around the entire reservation and have the ability to distribute needed goods to the most remote communities.

Needed are the usual: coats, children's clothing in all sizes, NEW toys and games, NEW stuffed animals.

Also requested: small home appliances like coffee pots, microwave and toaster ovens. Pots and pans, blankets, sheets, towels, any and all houseware items. The people we are serving are truly in need of the things you may take for granted.

Le umpetuki lela waste yelo nahan iyuhan cante waste nape ciyuzapi yelo.

Today is a good day and I shake each and every one of your hands from the bottom of my heart. My name is Webster Luxon and I am the Mission unit director for the Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud. We are located in South Central South Dakota on the beautiful and majestic Sicangu Lakota Nation.

The Boys & Girls Club of Rosebud would like to thank each and every individual who donated to our cause last year. The winter clothing that we received last year came just in time for the cold and blistering weather we received here in the Dakotas. The sewing machines are still in good use. Matter of fact right now the youth are working on star quilts. The furnace is installed and running in perfect condition. The youth are currently enjoying movie night. We now have a popcorn machine to add to the movie theater atmosphere.

We exist in an economically disadvantaged society. The suicide rate here on our land is extremely high. We are seeking professional speakers who are willing to come to our area and speak on the topics that are destroying our society.

We still need educational board games, more DVD's for movie night, winter clothing, art supplies, sewing materials and fabrics, baseball, soccer, and football equipment, educational material such as dictionaries, workbooks by grade and subject, we also need cleaning supplies. Currently we have two sewing machines and we could use two more because there are more girls who are sewing now. We would like to get bicycles to help promote physical activity and help prevent obesity and diabetes. We would appreciate any Christmas gifts for teens and pre teens.

Thank You!
Webster Luxon

PS: they also need coats, hats and gloves and snowboots.

The Ponca Tribe of Nebraska's Culture Committee is humbling asking for any donations to help our tribal members in need in this upcoming winter season:

• Clothing, winter clothing, under clothing, socks, and shoes or boots of any sized available
• Toiletries (I.e. Laundry soap, body wash, shampoos, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, hair supplies, dish soap, towels, wash cloths)
• Linens - Sheets (all sizes ), blankets, sleeping bags etc.
• Kitchen items (I.e. Dishes, small appliances, utensils, pots, pans, and storage containers)
• *Any kind of non perishable food items here is a link: http://www.angelfoodministries.com/menus/menu_2010-12_en.asp that will ship directly here and we can get to the families in need.
• Cleaning supplies of any kind
• And any kind of Christmas gifts to be given to the children of any age (birth to 18 years of age)

A long stretch to even ask but even used computers or laptops.

Or anything else you would like to send along. As anything would be a welcome gift for the people during these trying times.
Any and all would be greatly appreciated and very warmly welcomed.
May the Great Spirit always watch over you and yours in this upcoming Holiday season.

Darlene Pipe Boy is an elder on the Lake Traverse Reservation and has spent her life working for her people. She is well known in activist circles and is a heartfelt, soft-spoken lady. She has asked us to help the children and the elderly in her community. Here are some of the things she mentioned in our conversation:

“The housing here is really bad, and when it rains, we know its going to turn to ice and the lines will go down. Then there is no electricity or heat. We know its impossible to hope for, but maybe there is a way to get a generator.” Impossible is not in Changing Winds vocabulary. We are investigating whether or not we can get one for the community.

“We see a lot of hunger here. Everywhere you look, people are struggling for food. The elderly here, they are living on about $400 a month. It's hard, but that's the way it is. The children go through a lot of hardship and for them that's the way life is, they don't even know it. When you give things to the children, like a notebook, its like the greatest gift, and their faces just light up. The connections we make (CW and the people on the Reservations) are helping people. Everything is always very appreciated. When you give to people who are not used to receiving things, they are that much more grateful.”

Darlene is requesting coats, boots, new toys and warm clothing for the children, ages infant to teens. She says, “The teens are always forgotten.” I assure her that is not the case with Changing Winds, so if you can find sweatshirts, jeans, socks and underwear, these things will be so appreciated.

"If we are quiet, we will hear the cry of the redman! There is a need for jackets, snow boots, gloves, caps, thermal wear, clothing. I want to add the elderly who need jackets, gloves, sweaters, clothing. Gifts for christmas. There is always a need, in return you receive smiles, happy faces." Darlene Pipeboy.

Please Support the Children of South Dakota

Send a check to:

Changing Winds Advocacy Center
PO Box 801
Fairfield, CT 06824