When severe cold weather hits the reservation, families pull together and try to keep each other warm.

 As home heating costs have more than doubled, the well-being of family members, neighbors, children and elders, often depends on our help to make it through these cold winter months.

Running Strong provides utility assistance to American Indian families to help them meet their heating and electricity needs by providing funds to help families purchase propane, electricity, firewood and gas. 

Running Strong pledged $87,500 to help families increase their home heating dollars through programs at:
• The Center Pole in Garryowen, Montana
• The Cheyenne River Youth Project in Eagle Butte, South Dakota
• The Oglala Sioux Tribe’s Low Energy Assistance Program in Pine Ridge, South Dakota

This is our 11th year offering heat assistance on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Running Strong matches the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s contributions to struggling families dollar-for-dollar. We helped 1,032 Oglala families living on Pine Ridge to heat their homes.

"WE MAY NOT ALWAYS SAY THANK YOU, BUT FROM THE BOTTOM OF OUR HEARTS, WE SAY THANK YOU.” 
-Robert Running Bear of Pine Ridge’s Low Income Heating Assistance Program.