Help CRYP by Becoming a Toy Drive Donor or Volunteer!
As the Cheyenne River Youth Project® moves into the final weeks of its annual Christmas Toy Drive, staff and volunteers are busier than ever as they solicit donations, raise funds, arrange trucks to bring gifts to Cheyenne River and prepare to welcome an army of Christmas volunteers who will spent their holidays on the reservation. They have not, however, forgotten about the children and teens who attend The Main youth center and the Cokata Wiconi Teen Center.
Although both centers will soon shut their doors through the New Year’s holiday so Christmas Toy Drive preparations can take over, CRYP staff members are making sure that 2012 goes out with a bang. On Thursday, December 6 and Friday, December 7, they will host Christmas parties for kids of all ages.
The first is The Main’s Christmas party on December 6, which actually will take place at Cokata Wiconi. With the theme “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” children ages 4 to 12 will play games, including pass-the-parcel and musical chairs; decorate cookies; watch the much-loved special “A Charlie Brown Christmas” on teen center’s big screen; and then participate in a Christmas Karaoke Bash in the gymnasium. They’ll also enjoy salads and lasagna for supper.
The next night, December 7, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” will take over Cokata Wiconi. Teens may participate in a basketball tournament, a video-game tournament, arts-and-crafts activities and a cookie-decorating contest.
“We’ll be serving ‘walking tacos’ for dinner, and then after the tournaments, we’ll show ‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ on the big screen,” said Megan Guiliano, CRYP’s youth programs director.
Once the parties have gone dark, the two centers officially will close their doors for 2012, and Cokata Wiconi will be transformed into a 24-hour Santa’s Workshop. Former long-term volunteer Laura Copeland will be arriving from California to serve as this year’s Christmas coordinator, and she will be joined by volunteers from around the United States and as far away as Ireland.
Many of these returning volunteers make CRYP’s Christmas Toy Drive an annual tradition in their own lives. Many call Cheyenne River their adopted home.
“We couldn’t conduct a toy drive for 1,200 children across 20-plus reservation communities without their help,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “They play such an important role in bringing Christmas to life for our kids here, as do the many community members who volunteer their time to help sort and wrap gifts.”
And once again, staff, volunteers and community members will come together for a massive Christmas Wrapping Party on Thursday, December 20. Together, they’ll make sure that each child who writes a letter to Santa receives one or two gifts from his or her list, as well as much-needed winter clothing.
It’s a massive effort, and it requires many helping hands.
“We wouldn’t be able to deal with such a huge program without the many supporters who contribute in-kind donations, funds and wrapping materials,” Garreau said. “We’re deeply grateful to Christian Relief Services Charities, Running Strong for American Youth, the St. Louis Chapter of CRYP and Fairview High School in Boulder, Colorado, as well as to the many individuals around the world who embrace the real spirit of the season with their generosity, friendship and love.”
There’s still time to support this year’s Christmas Toy Drive. Please see the sidebars accompanying this article for detailed information. Every contribution, no matter the size, will ensure that Cheyenne River’s children receive what all children should have: a very merry Christmas.
“When you support the toy drive, you’re giving our children something much more important than toys,” Garreau noted. “You’re giving them a sense of normalcy, letting them know that they deserve this holiday, just like other kids. You’re giving them happiness, a feeling of being loved and treasured. And you’re giving them hope.”
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 visitwww.lakotayouth.org. And, to stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, visit the youth project’s Facebook “Cause” page. All Cause members will receive regular updates through Facebook.
The Cheyenne River Youth Project®, founded in 1988, is a grassroots, not-for-profit organization dedicated to providing the youth of the Cheyenne River reservation with access to a vibrant and secure future through a wide variety of culturally sensitive and enduring programs, projects and facilities that ensure strong, self-sufficient families and communities.
There are several ways to help CRYP with its 2011 Christmas Toy Drive:
Make a tax-deductible donation by sending cash, a check or a money order to: The Cheyenne River Youth Project, P.O. Box 410, Eagle Butte, SD 57625.
Make a tax-deductible donation via PayPal on the CRYP Web site at www.lakotayouth.org.
Donate a gift. Click here for the most-requested-gift list or, to request a specific “letter to Santa,” contact CRYP Family Services at (605) 964-8200 or via e-mail at familyservices@lakotayouth.org.
Donate gift cards, gift bags, wrapping paper, tissue paper, tape or anything else that might assist in toy-drive preparations.
Consider donating a Santa suit, as CRYP’s existing suits are getting somewhat dated.
Spread the word. If you have friends or family members who might like to make a donation, please let them know how they can help.
Click here for a list of the most-requested gift items.