Beginning this month, Running Strong for American Indian Youth® will begin shipping 9,000 elementary and junior high school backpacks filled with school supplies to tribal communities throughout Indian Country to ensure that thousands of Native American students are prepared and ready for the first day of a new school year.
Through our StudyStrong program, we alleviate the burden and worry for parents on reservations, such as Pine Ridge, who cannot afford the cost of outfitting their children, especially those with several school-age children, with the supplies they need on the first day of school.
This month, we aim to ship 3,000 elementary and 6,000 junior high backpacks to a dozen partners, including Today We Follow-Tomorrow We Lead (TWF-TWL) in Chinle, Arizona, on the Navajo Nation.
“The donated school backpacks and school supplies are very much needed,” stated TWF-TWL president Anita Begay, who requested 200 elementary and 200 junior high backpacks/school kits.
“Families in the surrounding communities receive government assistance, and the assistance they receive is limited to a certain amount.” Once the utility bill is paid and other necessary items are purchased for the household, “this leaves nothing for the children’s educational tools for back to school.
“With the help of the donated items from Running Strong, we are able to distribute them to the families in need.”
In Crow Agency on the Crow Indian Reservation in Montana, Ember Singer, executive director of Biiluukè Strong, is requesting 200 elementary and 200 junior high StudyStrong kits.
“A large portion of the youth in the community live in poverty,” says Ember, and the school kits “build the self-esteem and self-worth of the children. We have received backpacks and supplies from Running Strong and distributed them to zero-income households.
“This way, they look forward to school rather than dread it and feel embarrassed.”
In Summit, South Dakota, where the Summit School District 54-6 is located on the Lake Traverse Reservation, business manager Kaitlyn Christofferson requests 50 elementary and 50 junior high backpacks.
“In 2019, 62 percent of our student population qualified for free and reduced meals, which is an indicator of the high poverty of our student families, so our school works hard to provide additional help when we can for families in need,” she told us in her application.
“The StudyStrong kits provided by Running Strong for American Indian Youth® had relieved a major burden for district families,” says Kaitlyn. “Back to school time becomes very expensive for large or low-income families… because students may start school with little to no supplies.
“When students do not have access to necessary items like backpacks or pencils, it can influence their self-esteem. Low self-esteem can have a negative impact on learning abilities and behavior.”
In Spanish Fork, Utah, Eileen Quintana, manager of the Nebo School District Title VI Indian Education program, requested 100 elementary and 100 junior high school kits.
“We have almost half of our students who are on reduced and free lunch. Our Native families tend to have several children, so it is common to see large families,” says Eileen. “For our youth to feel ready for school and confident, having their own backpack with school supplies helps them concentrate on learning.
“Parents often struggle to get these basic supplies when school fees and school clothes take up the biggest chunk of their money.”
In Saint Paul, Minnesota, Theresa Halvorson-Lee, emergency services manager for the Department of Indian Work, requests 300 elementary and 300 junior high school kits.
“So many of our families are multi-generational and are on a fixed income,” Theresa reported in her application. “Having many of your grandchildren at home, or even just one child, can cause a burden on families, especially during the back-to-school days.
“Having these backpacks and supplies for our families relieves some of that stress, allowing an easy transition into the upcoming school year.”
Following last year’s distribution, Kaitlyn at the Summit School District reported that students came to school on their first week without any school supplies.
“After the backpacks arrived, they were thrilled to not only have the necessary supplies but also to have the choice of which color backpack they wanted.
“You could see their faces brighten when they walked to class with a backpack full of supplies.”
Kaitlyn added that the beginning of the school year can be difficult for low-income and/or large families.
“The supplies necessary at the beginning of the school year are one of many things that need to be budgeted for in August. The backpack/school supplies donation creates a huge relief for these families.”
Eileen at the Nebo School District wanted to thank the supporters of Running Strong who made StudyStrong possible. She noted, “This empowers our Native youth to have the tools necessary to become better learners.”
Help a student to be ready for school and StudyStrong.
