Karen is a grandmother with a small 3 bedroom house full of people. 4 adult children plus 4 boys, aged 9, 11, 15 and 16, and two girls ages 10 and 6. Then there are these 4 babies: Two 2 year old girls, One  6 months old girl and a little 1 month old girl. Only one of the older children has a sponsor.

At one time there were 5 more people living with them, but that family has found a place of their own.  Karen will not turn away family.

Karen is in desperate need of diapers size 1, 2, 5 and 6 for the four little girls… she also needs a sponsor for SHARE food.

The story below went out on May 10th and on May 18th, a bed was delivered to Sandra's apartment.  Generous donors wanted to make sure that Yngvar's heroic gesture resulted in a dream come true for Sandra.   The new bed replaced a mattress that was caved in the middle and blankets had to be used to try to make it level so Sandra could turn over.   In a telephone call, I asked Sandra if she had access to any computer where I could send a photo of the young Yngvar.   Sandra told me she had no access but she had always wanted a computer so she could take college courses online.  Her lack of mobility and transportation prevented her from getting to a college center.   People who know Sandra told us she had always wanted to take college courses.  They also told us about her consistency in following through with things she started - whether it was health care treatments or other projects. We shared her story and 3 days later a laptop computer arrived in the mail for her.

 Sandra is now learning how to use the computer and looking forward to the on-line courses.  A group of young people from a Universalist Church is sponsoring the internet connection for Sandra for a year.    The selfless, contribution of 9 year old Yngvar from Norway  has been the catalyst to providing Sandra not only with a decent bed, but also a way to fulfill her dream for an education.

 Yes, there really is a Santa Clause - he lives in Norway, in New Hampshire, in New York, in Virginia, in France, in England, in Texas and in many other places around the world.

My name is Kari Ose Evensen . I live in Byglandsford, Norway and I manage the Okini program - a job I am happy to have. It is wonderful each time a family receives what they need. About 3 weeks ago I received a special request from one of the people who work as an Area Service Coordinator for One Spirit.  Her request was as follows:

“I have a major Okini request. I know it is one in a million chance this will get fulfilled, but I told this woman that I would try again.

Sandra is a disabled 49 year old adult.  She is paraplegic and confined to a wheelchair due to a car accident about 13 years ago.  She lives in a very small apartment which I have visited - it is not really handicapped accessible.  The rooms are so small that getting around in the wheelchair is difficult.

Sandra would like a "new" box spring & mattress.  She requests queen sized because she is a large woman and must turn back to front every 2 hours to avoid health problems.  The mattress she now uses was obtained in 1999 - a motel went out of business & sent a truckload of used furniture as a donation to the rez.  She is beginning to develop sores from the poor mattress and cannot afford a replacement.”

This request hit me deep in my heart. One in a million chance to get this woman a mattress?? Is it really that bad?? I was thinking of people here in my surroundings in Norway. Many could just go straight out and buy a mattress without thinking.

I thought about it for a while..got a little “mad”,  posted the request on my facebook page and asked if there was anyone out there who wanted to help me raise money for a mattress for her.

I did receive an amount here and there.   Then a mother and her 9 year old son came for a visit on Sunday. The boy wanted to give me some money ( about $33) he had earned by helping his grandfather. We looked on the Okini list to find a family that he could use his money to help.   Suddenly he told his mom he needed a go home to get something.   When they came back, he handed me an envelope with all his savings. He said that he didn’t need it and asked me to help the Indians with it instead. Altogether this little boy gave me $258.

It’s hard to describe what I felt that moment. I really just wanted to cry…and I thought: “Oh, sure there is hope for the future with children like Yngvar!!!”  I just posted on facebook that I had received that big amount from someone I never expected it from, and that I would like to see Sandra’s face when she hears about this.

Now I am asking you too. Is there anyone out there who could help raise money for Sandra’s mattress? Let us prove it was wrong this “one in a million chance”. Every dollar counts, 5 or 10, whatever you could come up with. And if we should get more than what the mattress cost,  we have other “Sandras” with needs equally desperate.   Sandra’s mattress and box springs – the kind that prevents bed sores, will cost $699.00

Thanks a lot.

Kari

 

Yngvar shoveling for grandpa

"My name is John - I'm 63 yrs. old I'm really thankful u can help me out I live in Wamblee I live by myself No furnace just wood stove. So I really thank you and the people who brought it (the wood) to me. Thank you".

Recently, we traveled 60 miles to a remote area of the reservation to deliver wood to John and his 96-year-old mother who lives nearby. We discovered that John's stovepipes had holes and presented a real fire hazard. Our wood delivery team made an additional 120-mile trip, bought some stovepipe and fixed John's stove.

This is just one of the many problems we find when we visit people on a reservation larger than the state of Connecticut. Recently we have started delivering food to two grandparents who live in a small trailer and care for their 9 grandchildren and an elder who cares for his handicapped son. He often has no food because he gives what he has to others he feels needs it more than he.

Read more: Thank you from an elder - And a challenge

Someone asked, “Are the people you write about real or are they just examples?”  The answer is that they are all real people. We hear daily from people who are in desperate need. It is heartbreaking, when so little could do so much. A 12 year old girl who needs a bra. A 15 year old needs gloves. A woman needs feminine supplies.  

A sponsorship box with just $20 worth of items in it would fill so many of these everyday needs.

These stories are also TYPICAL.  There are so many people on our waiting list.  Here are a few more:

• An elder caring for her adult daughter with MS, needing food and household items, like sheets and towels.
• A young mother who was walking 5 miles to school for her GED, asking for a pair of shoes.
• A child with a life-threatening illness needing to get to a hospital in Minneapolis, where she and her mother would have to stay for at least a week.
• A grandmother living in a small apartment trying to care for 4 grandchildren, one an infant.

Are these specific examples real people?  Yes, they are.  But you should know that these stories would be true of many, many more Lakota people.  If any of these stories strike a chord with you, please contact Regina Hay (rhay@nativeprogress.org). 

Remember, your help goes directly to the person in need.  You can make a difference right now.  Today.

Times are hard everywhere. We know that. But on the reservation things are getting really bad. Winter is coming. School is starting. Children need new shoes and clothes. Here some of situations that we have heard about:

• A 12-year-old girl desperately needs shoes and underwear for her growing adolescent body. She would like some new jeans and tee-shirts. She also likes to read, but getting books is impossible because she lives so far away from any library.
• A woman who is raising her children as best she can spends what little money she gets in survival needs. It would be a big help if somebody could see that she has a supply of shampoo, soap, combs, and feminine products. She whispered this need over the phone to one of our Area Service Coordinators.
• A 15-year-old boy loves to join in the youth ride projects. The leaders are worried because he does not have proper shoes. Sneakers can get hung up on the strirrups. He needs a good pair of riding boots. He could also use a sleeping bag, a backpack, and a rain poncho. Not to mention gloves and a hat.

Let us hear from you if you are interested in helping with any of these situations!
Contact Regina Hay for information about becoming a sponsor.

His Lakota name is Hoksila. He is 13 yrs old and no longer lives at home. He is small and looks much younger than his age. When he showed up at the "safe house" on the reservation, he didn't talk much and mostly stayed by himself. Now he sometimes laughs or smiles. He helps take care of the horses and does chores. Recently his grandmother called, the first contact from the family. Hoksila doesn't see his mother or father much. They don't live together. They both have drinking problems. He came to the Safe House for food and stayed because he was given so much more.



Hoksila is not in foster care nor does he receive any help from the state. Billy and Donna provide food, shelter and clothing from their own pockets. They teach him traditional ways and values. And, they support his staying in school and away from drugs, alcohol, and gangs.
Billy and Donna have 17 kids living with them. In addition, they work with other Lakota adults to design camping experiences and equine therapy for 50 teen-agers at risk of becoming involved with drugs, alcohol, and gangs. The programs will provide the kids with the experiences most needed to shape their hopes and interests - cultural values and traditions, a sense of belonging and accomplishment, responsibility, leadership, a spirit of adventure, and fun and excitement.



Your donation to One Spirit will provide Billy, Donna and the kids with some of their urgent needs.

Urgent Needs for the Safehouse:

• As many sleeping bags as possible - rated for the lowest temperatures possible - hopefully at least zero.
• Sleeping mats to keep the kids off the ground and to keep their sleeping bags dry.
• Queen size air mattress or some other inflatable sleeping pad.
• Cots or sleeping mats for older adults helping with the kids.
• Two large tarps or some portable covers to make a cooking "shack".
• 10 lanterns - preferably battery operated.
• 5 more tents.

One Spirit is dedicated to supporting crucial community programs created by the Lakota themselves. The youth programs are critical for the young people who desperately need food, shelter, and loving care.
To make a monetary donation:

Via Paypal:

By check -
One Spirit, P.O. Box 3209
Rapid City, SD 57709


To donate new tents, sleeping bags and mats, or lanterns:
Contact Jeri Baker

Love and Peace,
The One Spirit Staff

Names have been changed to protect the children's privacy.
Photographs are not associated with youth at Safe House.

• Indian Country News
• Kili Radio - 90.1 FM
• The Lakota People - Wikipedia
• The Teachers.Net Gazette
• The Internet Public Library

• Thanksgiving on Pine Ridge Reservation
  December 2007 Newsletter
  
• ONE Spirit Friends of the Lakota People
  November 2007 Newsletter #2
  
• A Christmas Wish
  November 2007 Newsletter
  
• Wood Project, Book Drive, News from England, Sponsor Story, etc
  October 2007 Newsletter
• One People - The Lakota Family
  August 2007 Newsletter
• A Plan for the Future
  April 2007 Newsletter
• Introducing ONE Spirit Europe
  March 2007 Newsletter
• Big Foot Ride & Programs Updates
  January 2007 Newsletter
• Merry Christmas & Thank You!!!
  December Newsletter Volume 2
• Big Foot Ride to Wounded Knee
  December Newsletter Volume 1
• Happy Thanksgiving
  November Newsletter Volume 2
• An open letter from a Lakota mother to sponsors and those interested in sponsoring.
  November Newsletter Volume 1
• Project SHARE delivers $3500.00 ($7000.00 supermarket prices) worth of fresh meat fruit and vegetables to families on Pine Ridge.
  July Newsletter, part 2
• A sponsorship experience through the eyes of a Lakota family and their sponsors.
  July newsletter, part 1

Here are some of the items that are hand-crafted by the Lakota People and other items produced to help assist in programs development:

Read more: bags, beads, and t-shirts