Standing Rock Elders Stock up on Supplies for Winter

During wintertime in Wakpala, South Dakota, temperatures can quickly drop to 9° Fahrenheit. Throughout the year, there are on average 49 snowfall days, accumulating 19 feet of snow, which can make accessing supplies difficult. When the winter roads become too dangerous, Elders like 65-year-old Mary Ann of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe may get trapped at home, unable to access basic necessities. She told us, “Plows don’t come out until the storm is over. Last winter I was stuck at home for five days. I couldn’t even get my car out of the driveway.”

Mary Ann was happy to receive a Winter Emergency Box from our Program Partner Verna, a service of the Sioux Nation Relief Fund (SNRF), a program of Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA). Inside the box, Mary Ann was pleased to find supplies like toilet paper, paper towels, hand wash, rice, macaroni and cheese, and a book. She also received bottles of water, which can be expensive on the reservation. Mary Ann noted, “Some people say the water here smells funny.”

The food and other supplies will help Mary Ann’s family of nine, including five grandkids. She shared with us, “These things come in handy. Cleaning solutions are good to have, and I do a lot of reading, mostly family books.”

These items can be difficult to access on the reservation, either by supply, price, or distance. Mary Ann’s car has broken down, so she relies on family for transportation, either to the dollar store in the next town over or at Wal-Mart in Bismarck – 105 miles one-way. Mary Ann told us that she saved at least $50 that she would’ve spent on supplies. Now, she can use the savings toward her car repairs. 

Mary Ann used to work at a treatment center for Native youth, cooking meals until health issues forced her to stop. Retired now, she receives financial assistance through disability checks and propane assistance from the tribe. Any extra help is greatly appreciated, and Mary Ann shared this message with donors: “I’ve saved as much money as I can, but [the Winter Emergency Box] helps out a lot, especially towards the end of the month.” Donate to SNRF today to help vulnerable Elders like Mary Ann.