Around the holidays, it’s easy to focus on the excitement surrounding family gatherings and gift giving; hoping Santa brings you exactly what you wanted this year. And in the crafting world, it’s easy to focus on the crafts we’ll create for our loved ones – for grandma, sister and best friend. Naturally, we focus our energy on ourselves and the people we love during the holiday season.
If we pay attention, the holidays also remind us of the stark difference between a privileged life vs. an unprivileged life. Some families don’t get excited about Christmas for the same reasons we do. There won’t be any gifts to give, or any turkeys to eat. In some cases, they are more concerned about the incumbent winter weather than they are about a silly hallmark holiday.
At the Pine Ridge Reservation, these concerns are a reality. This is how their situation was described by a Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation spokesperson:
“It sometimes gets to 30 below on the reservation and lots of kids and adults simply do not have proper winter gear. Many of the kids (and we’re talking kindergarten kids too) live on dirt roads and have to walk a long ways in the morning just to get to the road where the school bus picks them up. They really need protection from the cold.”
Many of the kids need winter coats, as well as scarves hats and gloves. If you are interested in donating a coat or winter item, please check the Winter Coats Donation Drive for more information. We know all our crafty friends will rise to this occasion and help the people of Pine Ridge Reservation. Get out your needles and hooks and craft for a cause!
