In my last diary Sherry Cornelius aka lpggirl of St. Francis Energy told us about Lillian Walking Eagle who desperately needed a new propane heater:
Lillian Walking Eagle and grand daughter : Lillian’s son Cornell said to put the caption “These two old ladies nearly froze.” they have an old faulty ummm lpg space heater? not sure what they’re called. housing is constantly being called by them and housing merely replaces the thermocouple. i thought i heard liep had funds for furnaces so i told lillian about it. i told my mom about lillian’s situation, and she called the VP willie kindle. he said he would do something for this gramma. wks later nothing is done for them.
Kossack kurt, a lurker, my new favorite lurker ordered a heater plus all the necessary accessories and had it shipped to Sherry. Sherry installed it right away.
Here is Lillian with her brand new heater:
Lorikeet, lineatus, RunawayRose and jessica (?) also donated money specifically for heaters. I waited to hear from Sherry to make sure the heaters were safe and the proper accessories were included. An update on cost, thanks to kurt, is that plus the accessories and shipping the total cost for each heater is $230. I was able to buy 2 more heaters. Sherry promised to take photos of the new heaters with their new owners.
lpggirl has sent us more photos of our Rosebud rezidents saying THANK YOU to you all for helping them get through another harsh winter in South Dakota.
Below you’ll find more THANK YOU photos and details on how you can help. Please share these donation details with family and friends.
Again, we are helping people who are falling through the cracks with government and tribal assistance.
Everyone here has consented to having their photo taken with the caption
THANK YOU DAILY KOS and Native American Netroots!
More from Sherry’s email:
thanks a bunch to the quilt making lady. the question was asked, who are those for? i said anybody that needs them. then they were gone. they asked who made these. i read them the note that came with, then gave them the note. i’m sure there will be a thank you note to follow…
🙂
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HOW YOU CAN HELP
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PLEASE Share with family and friends and ask them to share.
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My earlier diaries explain in more detail why and how we are helping:
Here we go again: Blizzard hits Dakotas
Pine Ridge: American Prisoner of War Camp #334
Revealing Pine Ridge Rez Demographic Information
Employment Information
- Recent reports vary but many point out that the median income on the Pine Ridge Reservation is approximately $2,600 to $3,500 per year.
- The unemployment rate on Pine Ridge is said to be approximately 83-85% and can be higher during the winter months when travel is difficult or often impossible.
Note that South Dakota boasts of a 4.5% unemployment rate and ranks #2 in the Nation.
- According to 2006 resources, about 97% of the population lives below Federal poverty levels.
- There is little industry, technology, or commercial infrastructure on the Reservation to provide employment.
- Rapid City, South Dakota is the nearest town of size (population approximately 57,700) for those who can travel to find work. It is located 120 miles from the Reservation. The nearest large city to Pine Ridge is Denver, Colorado located some 350 miles away.
We have bypassed the middlemen; the 501c3s, the red-taped strangled Tribal Councils and the pathetic Federal LIHEAP program which runs out three weeks into winter.
We’ve set up relationships with the propane companies that service Rosebud and Pine Ridge reservation. The kind operators/owners know who needs help and can’t get it from their Tribal, State or Federal government.
Help buy propane for Lakota families in South Dakota:
The *fastest* way to help is to pick up the phone and call with your credit card information. A family will get propane delivered either the same day or the next day.
Telephone:
Sherry Cornelius of St. Francis Energy Co.
at 6 0 5 – 7 4 7 – 2 5 4 2
11 AM – 6 PM MST EVERY DAY
Ask for Sherry or her mom Patsy. Normally a minimum order is $150, but they have an account to accumulate small donations to a minimum order. Credit Cards welcome and they are the only Native owned fuel company on Rosebud. Rosebud is next to Pine Ridge Reservation and in the same economically depressed condition.
If you’d like to mail a check:
[make check payable to: St. Francis Energy Co.]
Attn: Sherry or Patsy
St. Francis Energy Co. / Valandra’s II
P.O. Box 140
St. Francis, South Dakota 57572
NOT tax deductible
You can also call Sherry’s cell phone: 605.208.8888 if the above line is busy.
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UPDATE:
Good idea from Aji in the comments :
…for $230 plus shipping, Kossacks can get them an LPG safety space heater. We’ve used this model; very effective; stable and low for safety and energy efficiency; multiple heat settings so you don’t waste gas; and a built-in O2 sensor auto-shutoff.
You can order a heater here and have it shipped to:
Sherry Cornelius
St. Francis Energy Co.
102 N Main Street
SAINT FRANCIS, SD 57572
Mr. Heater Big Buddyâ„¢ Indoor/Outdoor Propane Heater – 18,000 BTU, Model# MH18B
You also need to include these accessories:
Mr. Heater AC Power Adapter for Big Buddy Heaters – 6 Volt, Model# F276127
Mr. Heater 12-Ft. Hose with Regulator for Item# 173635
Mr. Heater Fuel Filter for Buddyâ„¢ Heaters, Model# F273699
Order Total $222.84 (includes shipping)
Telephone:
The Lakota Plains Propane Company
at 6 0 5 – 8 6 7 – 5 1 9 9
Monday- Friday only 8-4:30pm MST
Ask for Crystal to contribute to someone from Autumn’s list. $120 minimum delivery. This company serves Pine Ridge Reservation.
NOT tax deductible
If you live out of the country please use our PayPal link at Native American Netroots, the donate button is in the upper right of the page. This process takes about two weeks for the funds to hit the reservations so telephoning the propane companies directly is the fastest way to help.
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