Our program partner, Brittany, is a peer counselor at the Eagle Butte, South Dakota office for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), a federal assistance program. To help families on the Cheyenne River Reservation, Brittany relies on the Healthy Living service of Native American Aid (NAA), a program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA).

Nearly 32% of residents in Eagle Butte live below the poverty line, and stores are few and far between. Families with young children often face limited shopping options and steep prices for basic supplies, making this support especially valuable.

Thanks to donor support, Brittany receives regular deliveries of household goods, including diapers, baby wipes, baby sunscreen, detergent, disinfectant spray, clothes, toys, and paper products. She provides these items to her clients as incentives for continuing their health education.

“They’re very thankful for whatever I have here. That’s the first thing they look at,” Brittany said. “They’ll call and ask if they can get cleaning products.”

Brittany serves 468 clients, offering breastfeeding information, recertifications and certifications, nutrition education, and guidance on healthy diets.

The NAA products make all the difference for families stretched thin financially. Brittany said, “Most of us out here on the reservation can’t really get out of town or even have enough money to get cleaning supplies. It’s really cool, something to give back to the people.”

She wants donors to know that her clients live in “the middle of nowhere,” and often must walk to appointments because they don’t have transportation. “It seems like a small reservation, but it’s not. If you’re walking, it’s kind of a long way to get around.” The Cheyenne River Reservation covers nearly 4,300 square miles.

Brittany relies on PWNA’s support to help her continue serving families through the WIC program. She sees every day how critical the program is and said if it weren’t available, “It’d be a huge impact because a lot of people are always so thankful that there’s WIC. People depend on the program as far as the formula and the kids [ages] 1-5. I feel like it’s really helpful and benefits our clients.”

Her colleague Zena spoke about the importance of the Healthy Living products: “They love it. They always ask for more. They love coming for the laundry detergent and the sanitary stuff that we have. Very thankful that they donate all of it. I know our clients are thankful as well. Keep on donating!”

Your gift to NAA helps ensure Native families have access to the essential items that support their health and dignity. Please give today to make life a little easier for families raising the next generation. Donate to NAA today.