Post by Okwes on Jan 6, 2006 2:20:26 GMT -5
Decades of giving
Nonprofit founder continues running donated items to reservations
By Laurel Ann Henderson
The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT — Many of the Sioux who live on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in Eagle Butte, S.D., call Marion Clifford “Auntie” or “Grandma.”
Thirty-eight years ago, Clifford founded the Boulder-based Native American Connection, a nonprofit organization committed to delivering food, clothing and other essentials to American Indian reservations, particularly the Cheyenne River reservation.
“It’s one of the poorest reservations. They need anything and everything they can get ahold of,” Clifford said.
The Native American Connection receives donations from businesses and residents across the Front Range.
“We’d like to go (to the reservation) once a month if we can, because by the 18th of the month, they start to run out of food and money,” said Clifford, who reported dismal living conditions, a scarcity of jobs and below-zero winter temperatures in Eagle Butte.
Clifford, now 80, has been driving a 24-foot rental truck packed with donations to the reservation for more than three decades.
Her son and other volunteers often accompany her on the 1,080 mile round trip.
Even though the trip takes about 12 hours each way, Clifford does it gladly.
“I love these people. They’re my other family, and they’re the most wonderful people you’ve ever met,” she said.
Norma Figgs, a Longmont volunteer for the Native American Connection for five or six years, has been gathering items to donate for three months. Among them are 37 bikes.
“Most of (the reservation’s residents) don’t have a car, so the bikes are going to be real helpful,” Clifford said. “Fun for the kids and helpful to the adults.”
The storage space in Longmont for the bikes and other items was donated to Figgs.
“That’s what keeps me going. Everybody does a little bit, and it all gets done,” Figgs said.
Clifford took two trips to the reservation in December.
During one of them, she drove a truck filled with items collected by Fairview High School in Boulder, Broomfield High and Louisville’s Monarch High.
Fairview students received “Santa letters” from children on the reservation, which they dispersed to the other two schools. From October until the day before school let out for holiday break, the students worked on fulfilling the wish lists, collecting items such as beds, bicycles, toys and skateboards for the children on the reservation.
“They did so much; I am so proud of those kids,” Clifford said.
Clifford is uncertain when she’ll make the next trip to Eagle Butte.
“It’s all about the money,” she said, estimating the cost of one round trip to cost approximately $1,200 — $600 for the truck rental and $600 for fuel.
Despite financial and other obstacles, such as vandalism and theft of donated items, Clifford said she plans to continue full force.
“I’ve got about 15 more years that I’ll be going,” she said, laughing. “I want to live a long time.”
Laurel Ann Henderson can be reached at 303-684-5336, or by e-mail at tcnewsintern3@times-call.com.
Nonprofit founder continues running donated items to reservations
By Laurel Ann Henderson
The Daily Times-Call
LONGMONT — Many of the Sioux who live on the Cheyenne River Indian Reservation in Eagle Butte, S.D., call Marion Clifford “Auntie” or “Grandma.”
Thirty-eight years ago, Clifford founded the Boulder-based Native American Connection, a nonprofit organization committed to delivering food, clothing and other essentials to American Indian reservations, particularly the Cheyenne River reservation.
“It’s one of the poorest reservations. They need anything and everything they can get ahold of,” Clifford said.
The Native American Connection receives donations from businesses and residents across the Front Range.
“We’d like to go (to the reservation) once a month if we can, because by the 18th of the month, they start to run out of food and money,” said Clifford, who reported dismal living conditions, a scarcity of jobs and below-zero winter temperatures in Eagle Butte.
Clifford, now 80, has been driving a 24-foot rental truck packed with donations to the reservation for more than three decades.
Her son and other volunteers often accompany her on the 1,080 mile round trip.
Even though the trip takes about 12 hours each way, Clifford does it gladly.
“I love these people. They’re my other family, and they’re the most wonderful people you’ve ever met,” she said.
Norma Figgs, a Longmont volunteer for the Native American Connection for five or six years, has been gathering items to donate for three months. Among them are 37 bikes.
“Most of (the reservation’s residents) don’t have a car, so the bikes are going to be real helpful,” Clifford said. “Fun for the kids and helpful to the adults.”
The storage space in Longmont for the bikes and other items was donated to Figgs.
“That’s what keeps me going. Everybody does a little bit, and it all gets done,” Figgs said.
Clifford took two trips to the reservation in December.
During one of them, she drove a truck filled with items collected by Fairview High School in Boulder, Broomfield High and Louisville’s Monarch High.
Fairview students received “Santa letters” from children on the reservation, which they dispersed to the other two schools. From October until the day before school let out for holiday break, the students worked on fulfilling the wish lists, collecting items such as beds, bicycles, toys and skateboards for the children on the reservation.
“They did so much; I am so proud of those kids,” Clifford said.
Clifford is uncertain when she’ll make the next trip to Eagle Butte.
“It’s all about the money,” she said, estimating the cost of one round trip to cost approximately $1,200 — $600 for the truck rental and $600 for fuel.
Despite financial and other obstacles, such as vandalism and theft of donated items, Clifford said she plans to continue full force.
“I’ve got about 15 more years that I’ll be going,” she said, laughing. “I want to live a long time.”
Laurel Ann Henderson can be reached at 303-684-5336, or by e-mail at tcnewsintern3@times-call.com.