SHAKOPEE MDEWAKANTON DONATE $227,160 TO BRIGHTEN HOLIDAYS

Prior Lake, MN – Some children look forward to having a present at Christmas to open with a longing that tugs at the heartstrings of their parents. Not being able to give that gift can be disheartening to parents who might already be suffering during the tough economic climate. The homeless and the less fortunate also need special attention during the holiday season when the Minnesota days seem long and dark. To lighten those dark days and share in the holiday spirit, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community awarded $227,160 in charitable donations for the 2011 holiday season. The donations, which went to 44 social service organizations mostly in the Twin Cities, are providing toys, clothing, food, activities, and other gifts for families this holiday season. Some of the funds were also used to sponsor Thanksgiving dinners for needy families.

“We are grateful for the opportunity to help those who are less fortunate during this holiday season,” said SMSC Chairman Stanley R. Crooks.

The largest amount given to one organization was $20,000 to the CAP Agency in Shakopee, Minnesota, serving Scott, Dakota, and Carver Counties for their annual Christmas programs for families needing assistance. The CAP Agency is a non-profit organization serving children, families, and senior citizens. The SMSC grant supports the CAP Agency Hope for the Holidays annual “adopt-a-family” holiday gift sponsorship project. Parents are invited to create a wish list for each member of the family so that each child receives their special gift and the parents have the joy of giving it to them. In 2010 the program was able to provide gifts for 4,742 individuals from 1,101 families. The project also makes gifts available for families that are not able to register. In addition, the CAP Agency provides a wide variety of services to help meet other needs that families have during the holidays, including food.

The Little Earth Residents Association in Minneapolis received $12,500 for their holiday program. The Salvation Army in Minneapolis received $12,000 for their Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and gifts. A $10,000 donation was also made to Union Gospel Mission, the Minneapolis American Indian Center, and the American Indian Family Center for the holidays.

The Department of Indian Works (St. Paul) and the Dorothy Day Center each received a donation of $9,000 for their holiday programs. The Division of Indian Work in Minneapolis received $8,000 for their program.

Women of Nations received $7,000, and Kateri Residence received $6,500, both of the Twin Cities area. St. Joseph’s Indian School in Chamberlain, South Dakota, received $6,000 as did People Serving People of Minneapolis.

Other organizations in the Twin Cities receiving SMSC holiday donations are: 360 Communities, Ain Dah Yung, All Nations Indian Church, the Carver Scott Educational Coop 3 C’s Program, CAC (Dakota/Scott Armful of Love), Elders Lodge, First Nations Recovery Center, Hidden Oaks Middle School, Intertribal Elders Services, Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, Minnesota Compassion, St. Joseph's Home for Children, and the Prior Lake Lion's Club.

In areas outside the Twin Cities, the SMSC made holiday donations to: Ain Day Ing, Bad River Head Start, Boys & Girls Club of the Three Districts, Boys & Girls Club of Lower Brule, Boys & Girls Club of the Yankton Sioux Reservation, the Cass Lake Family Center, the Cheyenne Children Services, the Cheyenne River Youth Services, Fond du Lac College Human Services Club, the Haskell Off-Campus Club, He Sapa New Life Ministries, Indian Youth of America, the Red Lake Nation Toy Drive, the Rosebud Sioux Tribe, Rosebud Soup Kitchen, Sisseton Toys for Tots Committee, Traverse County Social Services, and Turtle Mountain Head Start.

The SMSC will also donate grocery gift cards to low-income Native American families living in Scott County. In addition to the financial contributions, SMSC members and staff participate in a Giving Tree Program, which gives presents anonymously to children in Native American families in need that live in the county.

SMSC Community members also organized a toy and clothing drive for the holidays for the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, home to the Oglala Sioux Tribe. Toys and clothing collected at seven locations around the reservation over a one month period were delivered to the reservation in early December.