| Every day NAHA receives
approximately 20 to 50 boxes of clothes and other useful items
from all over the United States. And it all begins with
the clothing shipment arriving at NAHA's central headquarters in
Rapid City. |
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In the early afternoon our UPS man
begins unloading boxes and boxes of
clothes and other donated items shipped from NAHA friends and
supporters in Summerfield, CA; New Bedford, MA; Louisville, KY;
Brooklyn, NY; and all across America. |
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This load arrived the last week of September during some
unusually hot weather with temperatures reaching near 90 degrees.
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| Once the UPS man gets
Stella's signature at
the front desk, he's out the door to his next delivery and... |
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...Robert Young gets busy weighing and receiving the daily load of boxed clothing.
Once this is completed for any
one day, Stella writes personal thank you letters to the
individual donors and has the warehouse send over a truck.
At this point, approximately
15% of the clothes are sent over to the Oyate Center in Rapid
City. The other 85% of the clothes are delivered directly
to the reservations in most need.
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Normally, the new shipment is unloaded at the
back of the building where NAHA volunteers and employees open,
sort and lay out the clothing in piles of dresses, pants,
shirts, coats, hats, shoes and so on.
All the men's, women's and children's clothing is sorted onto
separate tables for easy access. Usually two times or more a month, the Oyate Center in Rapid City
becomes a huge clothing center. |
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Photos
by Ruth Red Elk - Lakota Journal
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The perfect find: selecting from piles of good, clean
clothing can be a lot of fun. The woman pictured here
joined others at the Oyate Center for a monthly clothing
distribution sponsored by the Native American Heritage
Association. NAHA is a non-profit organization that
provides community tribal members in Rapid City and on the
reservation rides to and from medical appointments, food,
clothing, gas money and emergency accommodations. |
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After each Native American enters the building and signs in, he or
she may then browse to their heart's content.
There are many
tables of clothing that have been prepared by NAHA and community
volunteers.
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By noon, Native Americans in need of new clothing drop in to the Oyate
Center and begin searching the stacks of clothing for the right size. |
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Here, two Native American women stand in the
kitchen eating sandwiches they have prepared while overseeing
others holding up and collecting different articles of clothing.
Loaves of bread, sandwich meats, chips and drinks are offered
free as well. All the clothing is available on a first come, first serve basis.
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Thanks to the number of clothing donations, this is one of NAHA's
most successful programs.
Every month, hundreds of Indian families can acquire whatever
clothing is needed for each family member.
And the price is always right because it is all free -- paid for by
the priceless gift of caring and concerned friends of NAHA.
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Maybe, this brief description of NAHA's Clothing Program has reminded you of some good, used clothing or household goods that you've put aside in your attic, garage, or basement to eventually giveaway.
Please Don't Discard Them!
To an Indian family, they could be Treasures!
NAHA desperately needs cash contributions, but whether or not you send a donation today, please consider shipping your "Throwaway" items to NAHA (clean adult or children's clothing, shoes, linens and blankets, and medical items like canes and wheelchairs.)
We'll put your no-longer-needed items in the hands of Native Americans who will treasure them.
Please package securely and...
SHIP TO:
Native
American Heritage Association
1221 Oregon St
Rapid City, SD 57701 |
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