Every weekday on the Pine Ridge Reservation, Elders like Jennie B. enjoy a warm, nutritious meal thanks to donors like you and the Northern Plains Reservation Aid® (NPRA) program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA). 

At the Oglala Elderly Nutrition Center (ENC), Jennie often picks up a nutritious lunch. “I like soup and homemade bread,” she said. For 14 years, she’s relied on this meal service, one that brings both nourishment and connection. 

Through NPRA’s Standard Food service, our program partner Carol B. receives deliveries of essential ingredients like flour, rice, canned fruits, and vegetables for the ENC. These staples help stretch tight budgets and keep meals available for the 70 to 80 Elders who depend on the center every day. 

“People depend on this place,” said Carol, who grew up with Jennie. “The foods we get from [PWNA] really help because sometimes we run short on flour and canned goods. It all helps a lot. Otherwise, some days we’d probably have to close down.” 

Because of your generosity, Carol and her team can keep the kitchen open, even in challenging times. After 19 years of working at the center, she’ll finally have her own office when they move into a new facility. The current building’s ceiling is falling in, but soon, Elders will gather in a safer space with room for crafts, games, and social activities — a brighter place to share meals and memories. 

But for many Elders like Jennie, hunger and hardship are never far away. 

At 74, Jennie is raising five grandchildren after their mother passed away. “Gotta get up and get them ready for school,” she said. “The youngest one just started.” She lives in a nine-person household, including some of her adult grandsons who have nowhere else to go. 

Groceries on the reservation are expensive. Jennie said a $75 shopping trip only lasts her family one day. “I usually have to go to Rapid City or Chadron just to buy food for the month. And that’s expensive too. I need food for the kids,” she said. Her car recently broke down, making those long drives even harder. 

Without the Elderly Nutrition Center, Jennie said, “A lot of us probably don’t really have the money to buy food to last the whole month, and a lot of us get commodities. You have to make things stretch. But this helps because most times I’m home alone and I don’t like to cook.” 

While Jennie must stretch her limited budget, she still worries about others, especially the children in her community. She said, “The little kids really do need something because a lot of them are out on their own. It’s just so sad to see the kids carrying their bowls to the community center for meals in the summer.” She proudly added that her niece bakes bread for local kids and hands it out. 

Jennie remembers a quieter childhood growing up on the reservation. “It was so peaceful,” she said. “We used to play, walk around in the hills, and ride horses. Now, there’s so much violence going on. It’s not safe anymore.” 

Like many Elders, Jennie wishes there were more opportunities close to home. “A lot of people don’t have jobs,” she said. “They really do need jobs.” 

Despite these challenges, Jennie stays strong, drawing inspiration from her grandchildren and gratitude for the help she receives. “Thank you,” she said. “I just want to thank whoever is doing this. I appreciate anything. It sure is hard around this area.” 

Your support of NPRA helps ensure that Elders like Jennie and the children they care for have the food and community they need to stay healthy and hopeful. 

Donate to NPRA today to help keep food programs strong across the Northern Plains so that no Elder has to face hunger alone.