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In South Dakota, the Link Center Foundation, a not for profit agency working with elderly and disabled Native Americans is in dire need of funds. A spokesperson for the organization says they are literally out of funds. So far, the agency has 130 applications for assistance and, as of this writing, has no funds to assist those clients.South Dakota has been hit with yet another blizzard last night. This severe storm has brought low temperatures of -35 degrees with the wind chill factor. Tonight's low is expected to be -60 degrees in many areas of Western South Dakota. These temperatures are expected to last through Tuesday evening, with more snow expected over the next few days. The rest of this week, evening temperatures will be around zero, or just above.
The people of the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota are particularly at risk. Between substandard housing and pandemic poverty, elders are literally ringing heating assistance agencies’ phones off the hook. (Press release, Link Center Foundation)
The reservation is home to some of the worse housing in the country. The unemployment rate and median income levels are at Third world proportions.
The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is located within three counties. Shannon County is one of the poorest counties in the country. Pine Ridge is the second largest Reservation in the United States, roughly the size of the State of Connecticut. The unemployment rate is approximately 80-85% and the median income is about $3,500.00 a year. To make matters worse, heating costs have risen approximately 33% this year. (Ibid)
The old and the very young are particularly at risk on the Rez, particularly this time of the year. Many homes have no running water or electricity. Most have little or no insulation, as well.
A home with no insulation is a death trap this time of year, especially when heating oil has run out and there is no way to heat the home. For many of the Lakota who live on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the mantra is literally, “All I want for Christmas is a warm house.”
The very idea of expensive toys and the latest fashions has long since given way to just trying to survive the winter without freezing to death.
Many of us are worrying about what’s going to happen with the banks, and whether the President and Congress will come to an agreement on bailing out the car industry. We look at the long term potential for economic collapse and unemployment.
For the people on the Pine Ridge Reservation, the economy has already collapsed. With an unemployment rate of over 80% and the going rate for heating oil more than 30% higher than it was last year, catastrophe has already hit.
The question of the day is, how many people will freeze to death for lack of heating oil, and what can we do to stop it? When your car heater loses its mind and you cuss it to the next generation, or when your furnace gives up the ghost, just remember. Some people have no heat, and no means to obtain any.
For all of the toys that won’t be bought, for all of the overpriced tennis shoes, ridiculously expensive electronic games, toys and computers, think of what we could do, how many lives we could save, how many people’s lives we could improve if each of us donated the price of one toy or electronic game to a heating assistance foundation.
Wouldn’t you rather know in your heart that your donation saved a life, or kept someone from freezing, than prance around in overpriced athletic shoes assembled by under-paid factory workers in foreign sweat shops and slave labor factories?
If you want to help, contact the Link Center Foundation:
Link Center Foundation
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 576 – Firestone, CO 80520-0576
Shipping Address: 117 Jackson Drive – Firestone, CO 80520
Local Phone: 303-833-6520
Toll-Free Phone: 888-220-1653
