FEBRUARY 6, 2024:
The final numbers are officially in. The Cheyenne River Youth Project’S 2023 Wo Otúh’an Wi (Moon of Giving Away Presents) Toy Drive served 1,100 children and more than 250 families on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
This is no simple task. These children reside in 20 rural communities scattered across the remote, 2.8-million-acre reservation, which is the size of the state of Connecticut — and in CRYP’s deeply personal toy drive, each of those children received multiple packages chosen specifically for them, filled with fulfilled holiday wishes and warm winter clothing.
During the week of the winter solstice and Christmas holidays, staff and volunteers distributed boxes overflowing with gifts to local families at the CRYP campus. They also donned Santa-and-elves costumes and made several personal deliveries to homes in the city of Eagle Butte, bringing a little extra joy and magic to community members of all ages.
“We couldn’t do this without our partners, donors, and volunteers,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s chief executive officer. “Relationships like these have been vital to our Native-led, grassroots organization since we opened our doors in 1988.”
The volunteers came first. During the first 12 years of its life, CRYP was a 100-percent volunteer-run youth project, serving the community’s children in a former Main Street bar in Eagle Butte.
These volunteers comprised members of the local community as well as long-term volunteers from across the country and overseas. After experiencing the work and the heart-centered mission firsthand, those long-term volunteers returned home and became CRYP ambassadors in their own communities, and CRYP’s reputation grew.
“As time went on, CRYP became well-known beyond South Dakota and even the Great Plains,” Garreau said. “That allowed us to build relationships with regional and even national partner organizations. And with their support, we evolved from a one-room youth center in a defunct bar to a 5-acre campus with youth and teen centers, organic garden, public art park, social enterprises, teen internships and so much more.”
Some of those former volunteers helped connect CRYP with vital partners and funding. Others formed their own local networks that could continue to support the youth project during specific programs — like the toy drive.
“We started the toy drive in 1990 as a way to manage and distribute the in-kind donations we were accumulating,” Garreau said. “We made it a little different from the many other toy drives out there, in the sense that each package would be addressed to a specific child and contain a particular gift they wished to receive. It was grounded in Lakota values, which resonated with our community.
“Before we knew it, we were routinely serving more than 1,000 children each year,” she continued. “That would be impossible for a small nonprofit like ours if we didn’t have this incredible level of support, which is essentially a nationwide movement to lift up our children, our families, and our Lakota communities.”
In fact, the success of each toy drive is a direct reflection of the strength of the youth project’s relationships. This year’s supporters included American Bank and Trust in Pierre, South Dakota; Block (Square); the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe’s ABC Commission and Indian Child Welfare program; Columbia Sportswear; Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado; First Financial Bank in Dupree, South Dakota; the “Friends of CRYP” group in St. Louis, Missouri; Gordon & Reese’s Denver office; Lennar Custom Homes; Native Hope; Oahe Federal Credit Union in Pierre, South Dakota; Patterson Earnhart Real Bird & Wilson LLP (Native Law Group); Rapid City Woodworkers Association; the Spirit of Sovereignty Foundation; and hundreds of individual donors worldwide.
“We are deeply grateful to each and every person who has pitched in to help us as we seek to build a future in which our young people will thrive,” Garreau said. “Whether you’re contributing funds, resources, opportunities, or simply your time, you are making a real difference in the lives of our children. That has tremendous power, because they are our future leaders and culture bearers.”
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. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
DECEMBER 11, 2023:
The Cheyenne River Youth Project announced that it still has more than 250 wish lists remaining to be adopted in its Wo Otúh’an Wi (Moon of Giving Away Presents) Toy Drive. CRYP is hoping to have all gifts in-house by Friday (Dec. 15, 2023). If someone wants to send gifts but thinks they might arrive sometime next week, they can email toydrive.cryp@gmail.com to see if there is some flexibility with that deadline.
CRYP Executive Director Julie Garreau said there are several ways supporters can help support the youth project’s nationwide effort to bring joy and magic to Lakota children on the remote Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation.
“You can visit our website, adopt a child’s wish list and shop for that child,” she explained. “You also can visit our CRYP wish list on Amazon and purchase gifts directly through them; we will make sure the gifts get to the children who are hoping to receive them this holiday season. And, we always welcome financial contributions; we are happy to do the shopping for you.”
The Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive is CRYP’s largest and longest-running program. Founded in 1990, just two years after the organization opened its doors in a former Main Street bar, the toy drive now serves more than 1,000 children in 20 prairie communities scattered across an area the size of Connecticut.
Each child who submits a Wish List will receive three to four gifts from that list, addressed specifically to them. CRYP staff and volunteers also make sure that child receives much-needed winter clothing and shoes. To learn more about this year’s Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive and how you can help, visit lakotayouth.org/toy-drive.
Garreau also noted that time is running out for this year’s Winter Solstice Star Quilt Raffle, which also supports the toy drive. Tickets to win the queen-sized “Blue Moon” star quilt may be purchased through 12 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 25 at lakotayouth.org/win-a-star-
NOVEMBER 15, 2023:
The Cheyenne River Youth Project reported today that children’s wish lists for this year’s Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive are pouring into its offices. With just five weeks remaining until the winter solstice and the Christmas holiday, CRYP staff and volunteers are working around the clock to make sure they can make those wishes come true.
During this toy drive, which is CRYP’s largest and longest-running program, the nonprofit youth organization will serve more than 1,000 children in 20 communities across the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation. To accomplish this herculean task, two important things must happen: Supporters must adopt the children’s wish lists, and CRYP must also raise funds for additional gifts to ensure no child is left out.
To make the former task just a little bit easier, CRYP has opened an online “e-store” that allows supporters to view, select and download their preferred wish lists directly from the website. The e-store can be found at lakotayouth.org/toy-drive/
“We’ll be adding more wish lists as they continue to come through our doors,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Our hope is that we will be able to provide three or four gifts from each child’s wish list, as well as warm winter clothing and shoes.”
Most toy drives simply provide age-appropriate gifts for a child. The Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive ensures that each child receives gifts from their unique list, which arrive in personalized packages.
“That level of personalization became more challenging as the toy drive grew, but we’re dedicated to making this magic happen,” Garreau said. “Our children are so precious to us. They deserve to be seen, and to know that they matter. That being said, we couldn’t do any of this without what has become a nationwide movement to lift up our Lakota children. We are humbled and grateful every day for that movement.”
Next, to assist with the fundraising component of this initiative, CRYP has just launched its annual Winter Solstice Star Quilt Raffle. Tickets may be purchased through 12 p.m. on Monday, Dec. 25 at lakotayouth.org/win-a-star-
The public can assist in four ways: Buy tickets, offer to sell tickets, help spread the world by telling family and friends, and sharing details through social media. Tickets are $1 each or $5 for a six-ticket packet.
Not only does the star quilt raffle raise funds for the Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive, it shines a spotlight on a traditional Lakota art — and on an acclaimed Cheyenne River artist. This year’s quilt, called “Blue Moon,” was hand-crafted by tribal member Bonnie LeBeaux.
For the Lakota, Dakota, and Nakota peoples of the Oceti Sakowin Oyate, the Seven Council Fires, star quilts are valued gifts given to commemorate special occasions. The star pattern comes from early buffalo robe designs.
“Wo Otúh’an Wi means ‘Moon of Giving Away Presents’ in the Lakota language,” Garreau said. “Christmas is not a Lakota holiday, but it shares the values of generosity and care for others, which are deeply held Lakota values. We are humbled and honored that so many people seek to join with us to make this sacred time of year a blessed one for our community.”
To learn more about this year’s Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive and how you can help, visit lakotayouth.org/toy-drive.
In addition to providing gifts and funding, supporters also can purchase raffle tickets for a chance to win this year’s Winter Solstice Star Quilt, which has been christened “Blue Moon.” It was hand-crafted by artist Bonnie LeBeaux, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe.
Courtesy photo.
OCTOBER 27, 2023:
The Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 2023 Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive is now officially under way, and the grassroots, nonprofit organization is reaching out to hundreds of families on the Cheyenne River Sioux Reservation to ensure that their children’s wishes come true this holiday season.
The annual toy drive is open to all members of CRYP’s Family Services program, and during the month of October, the youth project is offering new memberships and renewals for the discounted rate of $25. This special offer will end on Tuesday, Oct. 31.
A single membership covers all household members for 12 months, and it provides access to school supplies, winter clothing, shoes, household and baby items, food, and of course the Wo Otúhan Wi Toy Drive.
When a family obtains or renews a Family Services membership, they will receive“Wish Lists” for each child in their household. CRYP will share those lists with supporters across the country, and in December, the family will be able to pick up holiday gifts that were specifically chosen for their children.
This massive, nationwide initiative is deeply grounded in the traditional Lakota values of generosity and caring for others. Wo Otúh’an Wi means “ Moon of Giving Away Presents” in the Lakota language, and according to CRYP Executive Director Julie Garreau, it recognizes the significance of the winter solstice and the traditional Lakota values of generosity and caring for others.
“When we give gifts to our children, we are giving them so much more than toys,” she explained. “We are showing them how precious they are to us, and we are sharing hope, joy, warmth and light during winter’s darkest month.”
All Wo Otúh’an Wi Wish Lists must be returned to the youth project no later than Wednesday, Nov. 15 so sponsors have time to adopt the lists, shop for gifts, and ship the packages to CRYP. Once the packages arrive, staff and volunteers will prepare them for distribution to Cheyenne River’s families.
“The earlier our families return their children’s Wish Lists to us, the earlier we can get to work on fulfilling those special holiday wishes,” said Jerica Widow, CRYP’s programs director. “Every year, we serve between 1,000 and 1,500 children; it’s a huge project, but our donors, partners, staff and volunteers all come together and work hard to make it happen.”
Local families should contact CRYP at (605) 964-8200 or in person at 101 E. Lincoln St. at their earliest convenience to sign up for Family Services or renew their membership for 2024. Again, the discounted membership rate is good through Oct. 31, and all Wish Lists must be returned by Nov. 15.
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. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and YouTube.
Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 2022 Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive.
Courtesy photo.
Cheyenne River Youth Project’s 2022 Wo Otúh’an Wi Toy Drive.
Courtesy photo.
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