Now a days, Hilda stays pretty close to home, and she layers herself in warm clothes to fend off the winter — even without the arctic storms that bombard the Northern Plains this time of year.

Harsh winters in the Northern Plains bring bitter cold, severe wind chills and damaging storms that often lead to power outages, water outages or water contamination, and displacement of Elders, families and children.

Amplifying this, winters in the Northern Plains last up to seven months — with the first snow often seen in October and the last in early May. Annually, winter fuel funds tend to expire for Pine Ridge, Rosebud, and other Northern Plains reservations a month or two before winter is over.

Last year, we were honored to help Hilda, a 99-year-old Native American Elder and grandmother living in the Fort Thompson community on the Crow Creek Reservation in South Dakota. Hilda received a winter fuel voucher through Northern Plains Reservation Aid (NPRA), a program of Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA).

Hilda used the voucher to help fill the large propane tank out back, and it helped her get through what was a very long winter. Daughter and caretaker, Rose, is glad her mother will be receiving a winter fuel voucher again this year, because she isn’t sure LIHEAP home energy assistance will be available. But, so many other elders need winter fuel assistance too. Will you help bring winter warmth to the Northern Plains this year?

Learn more about Hilda & Rose  Donate

Attention manufacturers and retailers: Basic winter essentials such as blankets, winter coats, gloves, hats and socks are in short supply on remote reservations in the Northern Plains. A bulk donation of these items from your business can help bring winter warmth to those in need and make your mark on the one percent of charitable donations that support Native causes. To make an in-kind donation, please contact Richard Miller at 602-340-8050 or rmiller@nativepartnership.org. Learn more about in-kind donors on our CSR page.