This Thanksgiving, 75-year-old Darlene P. will enjoy a holiday meal she might not have been able to afford without help from our program partner, Regina T., who runs the Pine Ridge Elderly Meals Center on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Darlene visits the center every weekday for lunch and values the companionship it provides. 

At the Meals Center, Darlene received a Thanksgiving Individual Meal Bag, which included a frozen turkey, boxes of stuffing and mashed potatoes, and a can of cranberry sauce. Without the distribution, she told us that she probably wouldn’t have bought the traditional Thanksgiving foods.  

“I don’t think I could afford to buy a turkey and all that. That would be an extra expense for me,” she said. The rising cost of propane—over $200 for a fill-up—along with electricity and phone bills, makes it difficult to cover holiday extras. Her truck needs repairs, and walking to the store is unsafe because of stray dogs, so she must pay $5–$10 to hire a ride. After bills, she has only about $200 for food and other expenses. 

Darlene expects her son to visit from Nebraska for the holiday, and she recalled the Thanksgiving days of her childhood. “I like stuffing. I like the way my mom and grandma used to make it from scratch,” she said. Her family would save pumpkins from Halloween to make pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving.  

Faith and family are central to Darlene’s life. Her grandfather was a minister, and she is studying to become a deacon and soon a reverend. She learned Lakota values from her grandmother and carries them with her, including respect for traditions. “She taught us what we needed to know to have respect for certain things that Lakota people usually do,” she said. Darlene was even a Traditional dancer at powwows. 

This year, Darlene also gave back, volunteering at the Thanksgiving distribution to help others in her community enjoy the holiday. 

The Thanksgiving Individual Meal Bag service is available through the Northern Plains Reservation Aid® (NPRA) program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA). 

Your support ensures Elders like Darlene can celebrate Thanksgiving with warmth, nourishment, and connection. Donate to NPRA today.