Come the first week in January, Oglala Lakota families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation on the Great Plains of South Dakota will be hunkering down after the hectic holidays and bracing for some of the coldest days of the winter.
And thanks to the supporters of Running Strong for American Indian Youth®, our Heat Match program, which offers 1:4 matches with each household contributing $100 and Running Strong contributing $400, a total of $500 will be applied to their utility bill or to fill their propane tank to provide warmth for six weeks.
Last winter, thanks to the supporters of Running Strong, we were able to serve 2,410 families – an estimated nearly 10,000 children, adults, and elders – more people than ever!
This year, Running Strong has budgeted $800,000 to keep Pine Ridge families warm despite the frigid temperatures, which in the past have dropped as low as -19 degrees, with a -34 degree wind chill, ICT (Indian Country Today) has reported.
In fact, the National Weather Service predicts a low of 9 degrees for Pine Ridge on Friday, January 23.
That’s why, for more than 20 years, thanks to the supporters of Running Strong, we have been able to keep children, parents, and elders warm on the reservation through our Heat Match program, which supplements families’ meager budgets for propane or utility bills.
“The Oglala Sioux Tribe is truly grateful for the Heat Match program that assisted our tribal members greatly,” wrote Oglala Sioux Tribe President Frank Star Comes Out in a January 20, 2023, letter to Running Strong.
“As you know, life can get challenging here on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, especially when confronted with the cold South Dakota winters.
“Your generosity in helping to meet the needs of our people is a blessing, and with your help, we were able to keep families warm in some of the most extreme weather conditions.”
He went on to state that the Running Strong Heat Match program “makes a difference in the lives of the Lakota, and we extend our gratitude and continued support in your endeavors that make life for tribal members a little bit easier.”
“Lila wopila tanka, we give great thanks to Running Strong for all your hard work.”
Running Strong co-founder and Olympic gold medalist Billy Mills, who grew up on Pine Ridge, puts it this way: “Take a quiet moment and imagine braving these harsh winters. I have. I have lived through it.
“I can tell you from experience that these winters are long and brutal, and frightening for a young boy who just can’t get warm – even bundled up in his bed!”
• From one recipient: “Wopila Tanka for the propane ♥”
• From another: “Thank you so much for the amazing heat match. Comes in good use for us who are having a hard time paying our electric.”
• From another family: “Thank you for all your hard work. My family received our assistance. We sure do appreciate it.”
