~The Joy of Sharing~

~The Joy of Sharing~
~"We don't like to think we're giving things to others. To us, that's not giving, it's sharing what we have. God loves a sharer. When you share with others, you share with God, with Wakan Tanka." --Lakota Wisdomkeeper Mathew King, Chief Noble Red Man ~
In a message dated 11/13/2008 10:49:32 P.M. Mountain Standard Time, harveyarden@starpower.net writes:
Subject: from steph - Crisis Situation Needs Your Help
Many thanks Harvey for sending out our Link Center Foundation emergency heating assistance flyer to your mailing list this morning. So far today, we have received $675 in donations from your people.... enough to get 4 more families each about $150 in propane.... enough fuel for roughly a week. I'm sure more will come in as well after people have a chance to read your email. We're all sincerely grateful to you and, especially, we thank you for caring. Without the word getting out, people remain too unaware of the situation on the reservations. Your good works help bring truth and clarity. hugs, -steph Stephanie M. Schwartz
President, Link Center Foundation www.linkcenterfoundation.org
Freelance Writer and Editor www.SilvrDrach.homestead.com
Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA) From: SilvrDrach@aol.com [mailto:SilvrDrach@aol.com]
Sent: Wednesday, November 12, 2008 7:12 PM
To: rockartist1@earthlink.net; harveyarden@starpower.net
Subject: from steph - Crisis Situation Needs Your Help

************************************************************************************************** Hi Harvey and Keith, Conditions from the blizzards last week have created a crisis on the Lakota Reservations in South Dakota. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency. It will be weeks before the conditions can improve significantly. In past years, you both have always been so wonderful in sending out our annual flyer (to your mailing lists) for our Emergency Heating Assistance Program for the elders, disabled, and sick on the Lakota Reservations in South Dakota. I'm asking if you would do so again this year. As the new President of Link Center Foundation, I can tell you that right now we have many elderly or disabled families with either no heat at all or down to their last 10 gallons. To make things worse, fuel costs have gone up about 33%. Sadly, donations have really been down this year. Yesterday we were able to fund propane for 14 families but now Link Center Foundation has no funds left to help any of the remaining families who have submitted applications to us. It's truly heartbreaking. If you could send out our flyer (see below) to your mailing lists as you have done in the past, we would all be deeply grateful. Hopefully, with your assistance, more families can be helped. All best wishes, -stephStephanie M. SchwartzPresident, Link Center Foundation www.linkcenterfoundation.org
Freelance Writer and Editor www.SilvrDrach.homestead.com
Member, Native American Journalists Association (NAJA)*********************************************
Link Center Foundation

An All-Volunteer Colorado 501c3 Non-Profit Organization

P.O. Box 576 - Firestone, CO 80520

Office Phone: 303-833-6520 - Toll Free Phone: 888-220-1653

Email: admin@linkcenterfoundation.org

Website: www.linkcenterfoundation.org


EMERGENCY WINTER HEATING/UTILITY ASSISTANCE PROGRAM

October, 2008 through March, 2009

For the Elders, Disabled and the Sick Living on the

Lakota Sioux Reservations in South Dakota


Our goal is to raise $20,000.

We are not grant-funded at this time. We depend on YOU, the individual donor, to help these families in crisis.


§ Average income on the Oglala Lakota Sioux Pine Ridge Reservation is about $3,500.00 per YEAR. Jobs are extremely scarce; unemployment hovers around 85% on this 11,000-square-mile reservation which houses about 40,000 people. The other Lakota Reservations face similar economic conditions.


§ Death by hypothermia is always a concern on the reservations. Each winter (October – March), temperatures drop well below 0*F. Many families must choose between food and heat. In some cases, they have neither.


§ Federal LHEAP and Tribal Assistance Programs offer each low-income family approximately $300 per year. With the current rate of propane at $2.20 per gallon, this provides only 136 gallons – about enough fuel for 2 to 4 weeks (depending on the harsh weather).


§ Propane prices have already risen about 33% since last winter, and are expected to rise much higher as this winter goes on. Those families surviving with electric heat also face major increases in cost.


§ Propane companies require minimum amounts of propane to be purchased before delivery (currently $125 to $355 depending on the company). These minimum requirements are expected to skyrocket as the high cost of truck fuel increases. This makes families struggle even harder to accumulate enough funds at one time to ensure a delivery.


The Link Center Foundation has already received numerous emergency assistance applications that cannot be filled due to lack of funds. With propane, wood, and electricity prices continually rising, many more requests for help are expected to arrive.


95% of ALL donations to our heating/utility fund are USED for the heating/utility fund. The remaining 5% covers bank, credit card, and processing fees.


YOU Can Make A Difference!


All applicants are screened and documented

Payments are made directly to utility, propane, wood, or heat equipment companies

Donations carefully tracked and accountable

No donation too small

Visit www.linkcenterfoundation.org/id21.html to see map of Reservations

Visit www.linkcenterfoundation.org/id24.html to learn more about conditions on the Reservations

http://www.linkcenterfoundation.org/id24.html

Note:

As with all Non-Profits, your donations are tax deductible to the extent allowable by law.

Please consult your tax advisor.

Please mark your check: "Emergency Utility and Heating Fund"

Please send donations to:

Link Center Foundation
P.O. Box 576 – Firestone, CO 80520-0576

http://www.linkcenterfoundation.org/

For Credit Card Donations, please visit our website at www.linkcenterfoundation.org