The Poorest Place in America

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota is one of the poorest places in the United States. Unemployment on the Reservation hovers around 80% and 49% live below the Federal Poverty Level. Adolescent suicide is four times the national average. Many of the families have no electricity, telephone, running water, or sewer. The population on Pine Ridge has among the shortest life expectancies of any group in the Western Hemisphere: approximately 47 years for males and in the low 50s for females. The infant mortality rate is five times the United States national average. Over 40,000 people are essentially living in Third World living conditions, right in the middle of our own country.

There are many organizations set up on the Reservation to help those most in need, and they are basically in need of anything and everything! Pretty much if you have something extra in your house (books, clothing, school supplies, sewing and crafting supplies, kitchen items, blankets, winter coats, etc, etc, etc), they are in need of it!

You can mail the items to the various addresses provided. Or if you or someone you know happen to be driving across the country (Mount Rushmore, anyone??) you might consider doing a donation drive at your church or amongst your friends and bringing a whole car or truckload! This would be a great project for kids or teens, and if they could deliver it in person, it could be even more eye-opening for them!


For a list of links to organizations on the Reservation that need the following new or gently used items, click here

Beading Supplies
Bedding and Linens
Bath Products
Books
Cleaning Supplies
Clothing
School Supplies
Donations for Infants and Toddlers
Donations for Children
Household Goods
Personal Care Items/Toiletries
Sewing/Knitting/Crocheting Supplies



Here are a couple of specific programs you might be especially interested in, to donate books, school supplies, sewing supplies, or winter clothing, :

"Build Your Own Library" Children's Books

This program has a list of suggested books, but will take any new or gently used children's book that you would like to donate.

School Supplies for Oglala Lakota College

School Supplies for Our Lady of Lourdes School

School Supplies for the Children at the Cangleska Battered Women's Shelter

Brownie Supplies for Wolf Creek Elementary School

You might have unused extras of these items, or you could order from an office supply store and have it shipped directly to the school.

Sewing Supplies for the Kateri Circle Sewing Group

Fabric, thread, embroidery supplies, safety pins, lace, knitting needles, yarn...you name it, they need it! Just the sort of thing that every crafty lady has extras of sitting around...you know you still have that yard of fabric that you bought back in 1987! ;)

Winter Coats, Scarves, etc. and Electric Heaters

New and/or gently used warm winter coats, jackets, snowsuits, hats, gloves, scarves, etc. and especially electric heaters. They can also use new blankets of any size. They need kids coats up to size 12 (and there are lots of babies and toddlers) and coats for women and teen girls of all sizes, as well as coats in men's sizes.


Monetary Donations Needed:

Lend a Hand with Utilities

Monetary donations to help women and children who have moved out of the battered women's shelter and are trying to set up their own households. They often don't have money to pay for utilities, which can be very dangerous in the extreme winter cold. Also, children may be taken away by social services if their mother cannot pay utilities, because of an unhealthy living situation. Donations help these struggling families get on their feet, and also help keep women and children together.

Propane Project

Donations needed to purchase propane to heat families' homes against the bitter Dakotan winter.

Support the Oglala Lakota College

Monetary donations (tax-deductible) to support students working towards a nursing degree in the Oglala Lakota College Department of Nursing.