Reservations to receive heating aid
Posted: Wednesday, December 28, 2005
PIERRE, S.D. (AP) -- A national group headed by Olympic champion Billy Mills will provide $75,000 to help pay heating costs on two South Dakota Indian reservations.
Running Strong for American Indian Youth, based in Virginia, has targeted the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where Mills grew up, and the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation for the funds, which are to be matched by tribal districts.
The November ice storm and blizzard, followed by cold early December weather, will make it difficult for some people to keep propane tanks full or woodpiles replenished, the organization said.
The harsh early weather "is a disaster for the heating budgets families had planned," Mills, national spokesman for Running Strong, said in a statement.
The organization is offering $5,000 each to the nine districts on the Pine Ridge Reservation, to be matched by the local districts. Nearly $30,000 is being directed toward matching programs on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
The money should be available soon after the holidays, said Molly Farrell, media and program coordinator for Running Strong.
"These coordinated efforts will help families in need stretch their heating dollars," said Mills, who won a gold medal in the 1964 Olympic 10,000-meter run.
It's the ninth year the organization has offered heating help at Pine Ridge, the fourth year at Cheyenne River.
"I'm always looking for money in this program. We have a lot of area to cover, an incredibly large area, and it creates a hardship on people when there's a couple of weeks of tremendously cold weather and blowing snow," said Robert Running Bear, energy and heating coordinator for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Last year, 152 families received some help through the program on the Cheyenne River Reservation. That number is expected to be higher this year, officials say.
"For many families, daily life and meeting their basic needs can be challenging enough. But when you add a bitter cold winter, the situation becomes critical, in some cases life-threatening," said Julie Garreau, executive director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project.
Running Strong for American Indian Youth, based in Virginia, has targeted the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, where Mills grew up, and the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation for the funds, which are to be matched by tribal districts.
The November ice storm and blizzard, followed by cold early December weather, will make it difficult for some people to keep propane tanks full or woodpiles replenished, the organization said.
The harsh early weather "is a disaster for the heating budgets families had planned," Mills, national spokesman for Running Strong, said in a statement.
The organization is offering $5,000 each to the nine districts on the Pine Ridge Reservation, to be matched by the local districts. Nearly $30,000 is being directed toward matching programs on the Cheyenne River Reservation.
The money should be available soon after the holidays, said Molly Farrell, media and program coordinator for Running Strong.
"These coordinated efforts will help families in need stretch their heating dollars," said Mills, who won a gold medal in the 1964 Olympic 10,000-meter run.
It's the ninth year the organization has offered heating help at Pine Ridge, the fourth year at Cheyenne River.
"I'm always looking for money in this program. We have a lot of area to cover, an incredibly large area, and it creates a hardship on people when there's a couple of weeks of tremendously cold weather and blowing snow," said Robert Running Bear, energy and heating coordinator for the Oglala Sioux Tribe.
Last year, 152 families received some help through the program on the Cheyenne River Reservation. That number is expected to be higher this year, officials say.
"For many families, daily life and meeting their basic needs can be challenging enough. But when you add a bitter cold winter, the situation becomes critical, in some cases life-threatening," said Julie Garreau, executive director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project.
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