Running Strong’s Winter Warmth programs are vital lifelines that meet urgent needs and uphold dignity across Indian Country during the harshest months of the year.
Through the Winter Heat Match Program on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota, families contribute $100 toward their propane or electric bills and Running Strong matches it with $400—enough to heat a home for roughly six weeks. In FY25 alone, 2,410 Oglala Sioux families stayed warm through this support.
Alongside it, our Holiday and Winter Clothing In-Kind Programs distribute essential winter gear—thousands of new coats and winter kits (hats, gloves, scarves, blankets, and socks)—to children, elders, and families nationwide, helping them face subzero temperatures safely. These efforts go far beyond immediate relief: they provide warmth, security, and peace of mind for families living in regions where wind chills can dip to –40°F and where economic hardship makes heating costs or new clothing unattainable.
Today, as inflation and utility prices rise, these programs continue to fill a critical gap—ensuring Native families don’t have to choose between heat, food, or safety, and can instead focus on thriving through the winter season
