Each month, Sponsors purchase food through Food Share America. One Spirit arranges for the food to be trucked to the reservation where Lakota people unload the truck, sort the food into orders, and deliver it to homes around the reservation. The workers are paid with food. Gas for the deliveries is provided.

Currently, more than 1000 people are fed each month. Still, every day we get urgent requests for food for elders, families and children.

There is a cure for hunger: It is called food.

Typical requests:

• An elderly mother who is caring for her adult daughter with cerebral palsy. “We often run out of food.”
• A grandmother, mother and 3 children who have left an abusive living situation and have temporary shelter but no food.
• An elder veteran and his wife who live in Wounded Knee do not have food. “We have often been hungry this winter.”

$50 will buy enough food for the elders for two weeks through Food Share America and will feed the family for a week.

You can have contact with the family or elder who receives food because of your generosity.

The Food Share America food co-op, managed and operated by ONE Spirit and the Lakota people, is providing fresh fruit, vegetables and meat to over 100 families and elders representing over 1000 people. Every month, increasing numbers of people ask to be part of the food program. This is the only food program on the reservation that delivers food that is both high quality and has high nutritional value.

Given the high unemployment (90%) and an average family income of $6000.00 per year, families time and again find food in short supply. Children attend after- school programs to take advantage of snacks as it is often the only food they will have for dinner. Government food programs are not designed for sharing societies. The Lakota people believe in and practice sharing.

Families share what they have with extended family, relatives, and neighbors. Those that are eligible for food stamps (EBT) and commodity programs also share with others. This means that food runs out or is in short supply long before the next government allotment. There are no food banks or food resources available to regularly meet basic food needs not covered by the government programs.

There is also an extremely high incidence of diabetes and other health problems that are likely related at least in part to diet. Government programs provide a high starch diet with little fruits and vegetables.

How does Food Share America help?

SHARE helps in two ways. First of course it brings fresh fruits, vegetables and meats to the families at a time each month when it is most needed. Second it provides employment and promotes self-sufficiency. The Lakota people unload the food trucks, sort the food, and deliver it to the homes. The workers obtain food for themselves and their family and they help their people.

How do I participate?

Donate a SHARE of food. You can make a one time or a once a month donation. Click on the donate button at the top of this page.

Make a donation toward food delivery costs.

For more information about the program and how you can participate, contact Diane Capalario.

ONE Spirit SHARE Food Program
Diane Capalario
dcapalario@nativeprogress.org

Learn more about SHARE at their Web site: www.sharecolorado.com