Churches Start Drive To Send Aid To S.D. Native Americans
Churches Start Drive To Send Aid To S.D. Native Americans
Staff Writer Tri-County Record Thursday, May 11, 2006
Rushford, Minn.— Lyle Rustad, once of Rushford, has worked with Native American causes and needs most of his life. His Diversity Foundation, Inc., and a conversation with Jim Hoiness has led to a local campaign to improve life for residents of the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota.
Starting next week contributed items and cash will be loaded until a semi-trailer truck delivers the gifts to South Dakota later in the month.
Everyone is invited to help, and local churches are leading the effort. “It’s a rural Rushford and Peterson (and Lanesboro) church project to put some needed items out there.” Hoiness, who visited the reservation with Rustad, said,
“What struck me visiting with two public health nurses – there are lots of needs for children. Sometimes more than one family lives in a home, sometimes children are sleeping on the floor. We talked to the tribal chief and his wife. She gave us a tour; a very intelligent lady who knows what’s needed.”
Hoiness heard that Buffalo County is one of the poorest in the nation, there are about 3,000 residents on the reservation and unemployment exceeds 90 percent.
First Presbyterian Church is coordination the effort with most area churches promoting it to members, but anyone can help with new or serviceable used items. Cash will be used if it becomes necessary to hire a tractor to pull the semi-trailer lent by Rushford Foods. Any extra cash will go to health workers for supplies at the reservation.
Many things are needed but the focus is on children. Baby and youth clothes, disposable diapers, cribs, toys, books, games and bicycles. For the elderly welcome would be canes, walkers, and wheelchairs. Furniture is needed including beds, mattresses, bedding, desks and small appliances. Adult clothing is not needed, says Pastor Susan Li of First Presbyterian/ Do not contribute anything perishable. If you have questions or to volunteer call Hoinesses at home or Forrest Smiths. Two members of the church, Dan and Cindy Kleist are truckers and will haul the load to the reservation when the tractor problem is solved.
Beginning Monday at 4 p.m. the trailer will be west of Nordic Lanes and volunteers will take contributions until 8 p.m. That repeats Tuesday through Friday and Saturday the are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
