Dianna, her husband, and their four young children had been living without running water at their home on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for two years, forcing her to drive a mile to a public hydrant at a powwow grounds to get all the water her family would need for the day.

Then, it would be back again the next day, and the day after that, a time-consuming and tedious routine.

But today, thanks to the supporters of Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, it’s no longer a chore for her to get water, all she has to do is step outside and take a few steps to her family’s very own hydrant.

“I am thankful we have water now,” says Dianna.

For the past four years, Running Strong has been working to connect as many households like Dianna’s to the water line that runs through the reservation through our Mni Wiconi (Water is Life) program.

Thanks to the supporters of Running Strong we have been able to connect dozens of households, providing hundreds with what most Americans take for granted, convenient access to fresh, clean water whether it’s from a kitchen tap, or hydrant outside.

At Running Strong, we are committed to expanding access to potable water in the Native communities we serve.