Unless you have ever experienced a bitter freezing winter, you have absolutely no idea just how challenging the dark months can be. What can make the situation even worse is having no supplies or emergency provisions when one of the common snowstorms strikes, making remote reservation roads virtually impassable.

More than half of the homes on the Rosebud Reservation are considered substandard, and one-third of homes on the Pine Ridge Reservation have no electricity.

People find it surprising that winters can be this dangerous out in the desert Southwest. In the Navajo communities, winter temperatures can plummet to 15 degrees below zero and sometimes receive several inches of snow.

Sadly, many Native Americans will struggle through very cold nights. By winter’s end, many of them may face serious risk because their poorly insulated homes provide only paper-thin resistance to winter’s high winds and freezing nightly temperatures.

• 30% of homes on the reservation rely on wood for heat
• 8% of homes on the reservation lack complete plumbing and kitchen facilities
• 99.8% of tribal housing officials reported that doubling up (taking in family and friends) was a problem in their tribal areas
• 88% of tribal housing officials said households experienced literal homelessness (sleeping on the street or someplace not meant for human habitation)
• 15 minutes is how quickly frostbite can set in when temps drop below freezing on the reservation

Senior citizens are even more vulnerable as they deal with a number of health issues, often needing to use extra fuel on summer nights as well as winter days just to stay warm.

You can make a difference! Your generosity today can help deliver Winter Preparedness Boxes, coats, blankets, scarves, and gloves to provide Native men, women, and children with the supplies they need to get through a winter weather emergency.