|
THIS
is what you did:
|
|
In
2009, we purchased new:
309 coats, 138 pairs of snow boots, 144 pairs of gloves, 404
hats, 80 heaters, 81 culturally relevant books, 106 scarves,
112 pairs of underwear, 500 pairs of socks, 100 blankets, nearly
1000 items of children's clothing, items of personal hygiene
for 200, baseball equipment and/or uniforms for 300, 8 sewing
machines and many individual items such as two tents, a printer/scanner,
a furnace, a sink, and more.
On
top of that, we sent 3 TONS of items such as food, gardening
tools, a dozen bicycles, beautiful football equipment for 80
kids, furniture such as bureaus and beds, tables, linens, kitchen
ware, blankets, used clothing (hand selected for perfect quality,
washed and folded with love by many volunteers).
|
|
|
|
|
 |
Changing
Winds volunteers included teens from schools in Pennsylvania,
New York and Connecticut. Their inspirational efforts resulted
in hundreds of coats! Notably, a volunteer from the University
of Wyoming raised 300 new coats plus toys and more. Changing Winds
assisted with the means to drive the truck to Pine Ridge. A wonderful
group effort!!!
After
contacting Changing Winds about Youth Group Service opportunities,
The Southport Congregational Church went out to Cheyenne River
in August to repair the roof of the Boys and Girls Clubs that
had suffered damage from the heavy snows, which resulted in black
mold. They also built a playground and will be returning this
summer for additional renovations of community buildings.
|
 |
|
|
|
 |
Hocikala,
our newspaper for the children started off with a pop in November,
and ran three months before we ran out of money. But it was
a great first run, helped us see what the kids want, what the
teachers want, and how we can really pave a more culturally
sound, literate and educationally supportive future for the
Lakota children. We are hard at work developing the literacy
curriculum and assessment tools, and this time, when it starts
it will not stop again.
WOW,
YOU GUYS!!!! You are AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And wait until
you see what 2010 brings. Next time someone asks you how you
could possibly change the future, let them know you have done
your part. See you soon. October is just around the corner.
:-)
Please
visit Guidestar.org after July 1 to see our 990 tax forms, our
organization documents, and more. And don't forget to visit
our photo album!
Thank
you for everything!
Love,
Christine Rose
|
 |
|
|
 |
|
Thanks
to Tiokasin Ghost Horse, whose dedication to the people of South
Dakota makes the warm clothing and heating drive such a success.
Be sure to visit his website and listen to his Thursday morning
radio show and archives at: www.firstvoicesindigenousradio.org.
First Voices Indigenous Radio offers so many ways in which we
can all better the world.
Also,
many thanks to:
The Soccer Post in Fairfield, CT
The Fairfield Nationals Little League and Girls Softball
Simply Smiles
The Fairfield Sun for their tremendous support
Westy's Storage, particularly, Emanuel and Greg, who did so
much for us.
And
to all of the individual and family supporters of Changing Winds
and the children on the reservations in South Dakota; those
who drove out to SD, those who sent goods, those who did laundry
and folded endless amounts of clothing, those who loaded trucks....
Thank you from the bottom of our very Warmed hearts!
Love,
Christine Rose
|
|
