{"id":11192,"date":"2020-11-10T00:57:17","date_gmt":"2020-11-10T05:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/santa-claus-versus-coronavirus\/"},"modified":"2020-11-10T00:57:19","modified_gmt":"2020-11-10T05:57:19","slug":"santa-claus-versus-coronavirus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/unitedresourceconnection.org\/cannon-ball-nd-58528\/santa-claus-versus-coronavirus\/","title":{"rendered":"Santa Claus versus Coronavirus"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/a>EAGLE BUTTE<\/strong> \u2014 In less than two months, the Cheyenne River Youth Project will bring Santa Claus to South Dakota\u2019s Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, where he will deliver thousands of personalized Christmas gifts to children in 20 reservation communities. The grassroots, nonprofit youth organization has held its Wo Ot\u00fah\u2019an Wi Toy Drive for three decades, and according to Executive Director Julie Garreau, the novel coronavirus pandemic won\u2019t keep Santa from visiting hundreds of Lakota children again this year.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf the Great Recession couldn\u2019t stop Santa Claus, Covid-19 won\u2019t stop him either,\u201d Garreau said. \u201cBringing holiday joy to more than a thousand children is always a massive undertaking, and the pandemic certainly presents additional challenges, but my staff, our volunteers, and our dedicated donors across the country and around the world are joining forces to make it happen. It means everything to our kids.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cheyenne River Lakota Nation makes its home in two of the 10 poorest counties in the United States, and more than half of its households with children under age 18 fall below the poverty line. Life in these remote Great Plains communities has always been challenging, but these days, it\u2019s even harder. The Covid-19 pandemic has profoundly disrupted daily life, especially for children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019ve lost so much,\u201d Garreau said. \u201cWe cannot allow them to lose the magic and joy of the holidays as well. They rely on us to be here for them, and we always keep our promises, so we\u2019re putting all of our energy, creativity, and resourcefulness toward this year\u2019s toy drive. We\u2019re going to make this happen, one step at a time, and as safely as possible.<\/p>\n

\u201cWo Ot\u00fah\u2019an Wi means \u2018Moon of Giving Away Presents\u2019 in Lakota, and it holds that space in own CRYP version of the winter count,\u201d she continued. \u201cNot only does that capture the spirit of the holiday season, it resonates with one of our most precious Lakota values \u2014 generosity. And especially this year, for the sake of our children, we need to embrace that spirit of generosity, taking care of one another,\u00a0and working together for the well-being of our community.\u201d<\/p>\n

CRYP is currently seeking organizational partners and individual supporters around the country to help fulfill the many hundreds of \u201cDear Santa\u201d letters that are flooding into CRYP headquarters. As families renew their memberships in the youth project\u2019s long-running Family Services program, their children complete deeply personal and heartfelt letters to Santa, in which they share what they most hope to receive for Christmas; they also ask for much-needed winter clothing and shoes, and often for items to make life easier for family members as well<\/p>\n

Each year, CRYP receives approximately 1,500 \u201cDear Santa\u201d letters. Although the numbers are impressive, the Wo Ot\u00fah\u2019an Wi Toy Drive isn\u2019t about numbers. Instead, it\u2019s dedicated to fulfilling unique, precious childhood wishes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith so many holiday toy drives, gifts are assigned to genders and ages,\u201d Garreau explained. \u201cYou\u2019ll see tags for \u2018Boy, Age 4\u2019 and \u2018Girl, Age 8.\u2019 Since the beginning, we\u2019ve insisted on keeping this personal. When our children give us their letters to Santa, and when they let him know what toys they\u2019d like, they\u2019re really sharing their dreams.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen Christmas arrives, our kids see beautifully wrapped packages with their names on them,\u201d she added. \u201cAnd when they open their gifts and see that Santa made some of their wishes come true, they experience the true magic of the holiday season. All children, everywhere, should experience that magic and feel the joy and hope that come with it.\u201d<\/p>\n

This level of personalization is challenging given the massive scope of the project, but CRYP staff members, donors, and volunteers are determined to deliver. That means working around the clock in the weeks and days leading up to Christmas, but Garreau said it\u2019s worth it.<\/p>\n

\u201cWorking together, we\u2019re able to give our children one day to just be kids,\u201d she said. \u201cWhen they\u2019re small, they understand that Santa loves them. When they grow up, they see the magnitude of what happens here. In both cases, they understand on a heart level how treasured they are. They feel that they are loved, and they are.\u201d<\/p>\n

To support the Wo Ot\u00fah\u2019an Wi Toy Drive and to learn more about the many ways to help make a child\u2019s dreams come true this holiday season, please visit lakotayouth.org\/toy-drive<\/a>. Every contribution directly supports CRYP\u2019s gift-giving efforts, and makes a real difference in the lives of Cheyenne River\u2019s children.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis has been an unprecedented year in so many ways,\u201d Garreau reflected. \u201cFirst and foremost, I want to thank everyone who has helped us stay above water in 2020, and who is supporting us now in bringing a little extra joy to our kids. The need is so great across this country, we are humbled and honored that you would choose us.\u201d<\/p>\n

To learn more about the Cheyenne River Youth Project and its programs, and for information about making donations and volunteering, call (605) 964-8200 or visit www.lakotayouth.org<\/a>. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.<\/p>\n

The post Santa Claus versus Coronavirus<\/a> first appeared on Native Sun News Today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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Visit Original Source<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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EAGLE BUTTE \u2014 In less than two months, the Cheyenne River Youth Project will bring Santa Claus to South Dakota\u2019s Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation, where he will deliver thousands of personalized Christmas gifts to children in 20 reservation communities. The grassroots, nonprofit youth organization has held its Wo Ot\u00fah\u2019an Wi <\/p>\n

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Shared by Native Sun News Today<\/a> November 10, 2020<\/p>\n

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