Today is December 1, and that means just five days until Chanukah, 24 days until the Christmas holiday, and 30 days until the end of the year. This particular Tuesday also is #GivingTuesday.
Today, individuals, students, families, businesses, community organizations and charities around the world will come together for one common purpose: to to give back. It’s a global celebration – and a new tradition of kindness, generosity and good will toward others.
Today, consider supporting the Cheyenne River Youth Project®, which has just three weeks left to fulfill the Christmas wishes of 1,500 children on South Dakota’s remote, 2.8-million-acre Cheyenne River reservation. More than 1,000 letters in the 2015 Christmas Toy Drive have already been adopted by generous supporters, yet more than 400 “Dear Santa” letters still need sponsors.
“These hundreds of children are relying on us to bring Santa Claus to Cheyenne River this Christmas,” said Julie Garreau, CRYP’s executive director. “Each child wrote a heartfelt letter in the hope that Santa would bring a little extra happiness and magic to their homes this Christmas, and we’re working hard to make sure their dreams come true.
Supporters who wish to join the youth project’s Christmas Toy Drive efforts can contact CRYP directly at (605) 964-7082 to get their Santa letters. Or, if they would prefer to contribute funds, they can donate via the “Help CRYP” link in the navigation bar above or the “Donate Now” button on the home page. CRYP staff and volunteers will do the shopping on their end to make sure Santa comes to so many deserving children.
“During the last few years, we’ve served between 1,200 and 1,300 kids,” Garreau said. “This year, we’re hoping to expand our reach to 1,500 letters, because there’s such a great need on our reservation. And we are committed to doing everything in our power to make sure that every kid who wants to be on Santa’s list at Christmastime will be on that list.”
For too many families on Cheyenne River, household budgets simply cannot stretch to cover winter clothes, much less holiday gifts. So hundreds of children rely on CRYP to be there for them during the holiday season.
“Consider your own holiday memories, and think about how much Christmas means to a child,” Garreau commented. “So for our kids, who often have to grow up way too fast due to circumstances beyond their control, this annual Christmas Toy Drive means everything. It means that, for at least one day, they get to enjoy just being a kid.”
We can’t do this without your support.
To learn more about how you can help as a donor or a volunteer, click here!
To stay up to date on the latest CRYP news and events, follow the youth project on Facebook (facebook.com/LakotaYouth), Twitter (@LakotaYouth) and Instagram (@waniyetuwowapi).