Another angel who needs to be called out is Sherry at St. Francis Energy Co. that services Rosebud reservation. Sherry delivers the propane and is aware of who is running low on fuel because she drives to the outlying areas and checks tank levels looking for the ones who need help. She is particularly concerned about the elders. She doesn't need a list, she knows who needs fuel.

Our report about Sherry clinched the deal for the High Rollers Motorcycle Club. They have adopted St. Francis Energy Company as their next fundraising effort. Visit their website, they ARE high rollers when it comes to fundraising.

H/T SarahLee, Chris Rodda and translatorpro

At the beginning of our campaign Sherry wondered why she was getting donation calls and upon visiting Daily Kos for the first time she realized what was happening. Impressed, she has just recently joined our ranks as a Kossack, lpggirl.

Chris Rodda needs to persuade Autumn Two Bulls to join us also.

Call St. Francis Energy Co. at 6 0 5 - 7 4 7 - 2 5 4 2 to help Rosebud reservation. 11 AM - 6 PM MST to talk to Sherry or her mom Patsy. Normally a minimum order is $150, but they have set up an account so that people wanting to donate less can and as it accumulates to a minimum order, it will be delivered. Ask for Sherry or Patsy, who can process this type of payment. Credit Cards welcome and they are the only Native owned fuel company on Rosebud.

BACKGROUND IN A NUTSHELL: Severe ice storms hit the South Dakota rezs January 21st and 6 inch ice shells encased all the power lines, severe winds brought down more than 2000 power poles, crippling the water system also. Power was out for more than 3 weeks. This storm was devastating because it followed 2 blizzards in December when LIHEAP heating funds ran out for the tribes. They could not wait for funding so we Kossacks started a campaign to call the power companies directly and donate to fill a home's empty propane tank.

Another fast and direct way you can help: As mentioned earlier, the LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Home Assistance) Tribal programs ran out of winter funding in early December. Here's the hard part; you will need to write a check because of no online presence for any tribe.

There is a very long national list of LIHEAP Tribal Grantees here. You might consider a tribe in your own state. Here is South Dakota and North Dakota.

I'm focusing on the three below because we have Kossacks and their relatives there.

Ms. Eileen Shot

LIHEAP Coordinator

Rosebud Sioux Tribe

P.O. Box 430

Rosebud, South Dakota 57570

Mr. Denise Red Owl

Director

Oglala Sioux Tribe (Pine Ridge)

P.O. Box 1051

Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770

Ms. Irma Walking Elk

LIHEAP Coordinator

Standing Rock Sioux Tribe

P.O. Box D

Fort Yates, North Dakota 58538

Clothing Donation: (Must be clean and gently worn or it will be thrown away ) Pretty Bird Woman House

211 N. First St

McLaughlin, SD 57642

See website for specific material needs. White Buffalo Calf Woman Society, Inc

291 N. Main

P.O. Box 227

Mission, SD 57555

605-856-2317

Paypal link at www.wbcws.org Lakota Oyate Wakanyeja Owicakiyape

East Highway 18

IHS Compound, Box 604

Pine Ridge, SD 57770. See changingwinds.org for addresses of other agencies participating in the Winter Warmth Drive for the people of Pine Ridge.

Be sure to run all other donation sites through Charity Navigator to make sure they are reputable. There are many scams, old and new out there.

Please see Aji's diary for links to contact information for state and local officials. For a list of federal agency contacts, go here; for a list of national media contacts and a template for a letter to the editor, gohere.

For more background, history and details please see these diaries:

Dakotas Snow Emergency: Charity and Beyond[ Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Contact Info]

Keith's Special Comment In South Dakota Rez Diary

Here's some feel good video from the Olympics:

H/T to BuffaloPost and DeepHarm