EAGLE BUTTE, S.D. (Sept. 3, 2026) — The Cheyenne River Youth Project helped local families meet two essential needs this summer, distributing fresh fruits and vegetables and school supplies to hundreds of Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation residents. CRYP hosted the public produce distribution on Aug. 17 and its annual School Supplies Distribution for Family Services members on Aug. 19.
CRYP worked closely with Partnership with Native Americans (PWNA) and Pierre, South Dakota-based Rillings Produce to host the Aug. 17 produce distribution, which served 337 families. Each food box included sweet corn, watermelon, cantaloupe, onions, radishes, potatoes, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, bell peppers, carrots and cherries.
CRYP also shared the produce with the Elderly Nutrition Center next door, serving 65 elders. Staff still had plenty of cucumbers, onions and zucchini on hand, and in the days to follow, 79 additional community members who were unable to attend the event stopped by to pick up the remaining fresh vegetables.
Two days after the produce distribution, the youth project welcomed 100 local families to the Cokata Wiconi (Center of Life) Teen Center for the annual School Supplies Distribution. Open to members of CRYP’s Family Services program, the distribution provided children with the materials they need for the new school year.
This year, CRYP also took the opportunity to learn more about the families it serves. Eighty-two families completed a survey while on campus, and their responses gave the team a clearer picture of both the need for school supplies on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation and the difference the annual distribution makes for household budgets.
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 lakotayouth.org.
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