As countless winter storms, endless snow and below zero temperatures continue to plague the Northern Plains, too many American Indian children and families have been left vulnerable.

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

Many families cannot afford the utilities they need and the well-being of families, 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.

In 1997 we began offering heat assistance on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Running Strong matches the Oglala Sioux Tribe’s contributions to struggling families dollar-for-dollar.

Every year, we help hundreds of Oglala families living on Pine Ridge to heat their homes.

On the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, Running Strong and the Cheyenne River Youth Project are going to provide $30,000 in utilities assistance to help families heat their homes in the winter.

“It’s important to us that we do as much as we can to assist our friends and neighbors. The emergency heat assistance is a great start, and we’re continuing to look for new ways we can help,” says Julie Garreau, Executive Director of the Cheyenne River Youth Project.

HELP US keep American Indian families warm and safe this winter.

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