ANYTHING HELPS - EXAMPLE OF NEED

Out here, there are many needs - some are very small, some are very large. When we pass out Holiday Food Baskets, we give to many different areas. One area is to a local BIE (Bureau of Indian Education) school, this local school is not a boarding school, but many are, the reason, I feel, is that it is easier on the parents being that they do not have to feed or clothe the childern during the week. Below is a copy of a letter we recently recieved, we know that we will probably have to increase the number of baskets for Thanksgiving and Christmas.


UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR
Bureau of Indian Education
Baca/Dlo' a yazhi Community School
PO Box 509
Prewitt, NM 87045

August 24, 2009

George Roberts
Way In The Wilderness
PO Box 1429
Thoreau, NM 87323

Dear Mr. Roberts:

The families who receive the holiday food boxes have always been very appreciative. The children are always so excited and happy to look forward to a special meal like other families who have jobs and are able to have holiday meals with all the trimmings. The families prefer to have a turkey they can cook instead of canned meat. All of our families have cooking stoves.

I have heard students say “Is this food really ours, we never had a turkey before”.
“How did we get this food, did we win it?” “Who gave us this food?”

Many of our families have diabetes so it would be nice to have food with low salt and sugar content. Of course, some of our students don’t get the special cookies, cakes or other desserts at home. Canned fruits are always welcomed.

We have 385 students in our school. All of them receive a free breakfast and lunch daily. Many come back for seconds.

Our students also need clothing especially socks and underwear. Sometimes a child will come to school without socks or underwear that are too big. With the
cold weather come, it would be nice to have long stockings for girls. Our school tries to have extra clothing on hand but once they are “loaned out”, they are not returned.. Another need is small sweat pants (sizes 5-10) for our kindergarteners and others who have accidents.

Our school would appreciate any donation for our students and their families.

Ro Ellsworth-Little, LMSW
School Counselor/SW