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This letter is from the Yurok Head Start for their ongoing donation drive!
November 30, 2021
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
Thank you so much for all of the amazing donations. The educational toys and supplies you have provided to our students here at the Klamath Yurok Tribe Head Start were greatly appreciated.
Unfortunately, our old storage sheds had ruined a lot of our classroom supplies. With your donations we are able to replenish some of the items that were destroyed. Our students and teachers are very excited to implement these supplies and toys into our classrooms.
Again, we are very grateful! Wokhlew (Thanks)!
Jolleanne Jones
Family Service Coordinator/ Site Supervisor
Yurok Tribe Early Childhood Education Center
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This letter is from the Piñon High School Librarian, on the Navajo Nation for our Piñon Schools book drives.
November 18, 2021
Dear Chris and FoPRR,
I continue to be amazed at the generosity of your organization. We have received new books, used books and books donated as class sets for teachers. Some donors even sent other non-book items to share with students that are unique to their area! Some donors have sent new and used books for the elementary and mid-schools as well. I have also received a number of personal letters and offers of more books.
It was my intention to respond individually to each donation, but I have gotten so far behind this fall that I decided that I probably wouldn’t be able to accomplish this in a timely manner. Therefore, during this season of counting our blessings
and giving special thanks for them, I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you to all the donors who have given our students at Piñon Schools so much.
I apologize for not responding to you all with a personal letter. Thank you for believing in education and our wonderful students!
Sincerely,
Mr. Loren Omoth, Librarian
Pinon High School
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This one is for our food drive for Pine Ridge Reservation.
November 20, 2021
Dear Chris and Friends of Pine Ridge,
Thank you very much for your kind donation of food for our families here on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The need is great and we give out food boxes to help those in dire need. We provide boxes of food from the food pantry, but also deliver to elders or those that have no rides. Some have Covid and are quarantined so we deliver outside their homes.
Your contribution to this food drive makes a world of a difference! Thank you all very much from the bottom of our hearts!
Blessings to you and your families,
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We recently completed a classroom sets book drive for a Navajo HS English teacher, here’s his thank you letter!
November 18, 2021
Dear Friends of the Pine Ridge Reservation,
I would like to extend my sincere appreciation for your generous gift of books for my 11th and 12th grade English classes! When Mr. Omoth notified me that you were willing to help us out, I polled my classes to ask what kind of material they’d like to read.
The books in question got overwhelming support, although I was a little nervous they’d be hard to find. But you all really came through and got all the copies we needed! Again, thanks so much, from both myself and my students.
Dr. LaBarge
Robert LaBarge, Ph.D.
Chair, Department of English
Piñon High School
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This one is for Christmas gifts we donated to the Boys & Girls Club on the Yurok Reservation.
November 16, 2021
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
We are over whelmed with all the toys we received from your generous donations! We have packages still coming in. Thank you so much for making a big difference in our community this year. Last year we were unable to do anything due to Covid. Our kids from the Boys and Girls Club of the Yurok Tribe will each get at least two presents to open for our Christmas party.
Chris did an amazing job at organizing everything. I have heard from other community members also of an amazing job she does. What an awesome organization to be apart of! Pine Ridge hits close to home for me, I am Cheyenne River Sioux native from South Dakota. I now work on the Yurok Reservation in California with youth.
Thank you so much from the bottom of our hearts, and Merry Christmas!
Respectfully,
Jessica Defender-Farley
Youth Worker
Boys and Girls Club of Yurok Tribe
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This thank you letter is from the Principal of Jack Norton Elementary School and Weitchpec Yurok Magnet Elementary School on the Yurok Reservation. We’ve had donation drives for both schools recently.
October 26, 2021
Chris/FoPRR,
I was not sure about what my secretary was getting our school into last summer and questioned her on signing up our school with FoPPR—I guess I thought it was a scam and didn’t want my students to be any part of another scam.
I was very wrong—she did our school an amazing deed by signing up with FoPRR. My students have been greatly blessed from your kind donors’ generosity. Thank you for making a difference in the lives of Native Youth. Three local tribes are represented by the students attending Jack Norton Elementary School—they are the Karuk, Yurok, and Hupa. All of them have struggled and felt the sting of an ever-changing world that closed in around them.
Your generous giving to my school has given my students hope and had a positive impact on the social-emotional challenges facing our school. Your amazing donations of cubbies, jackets, school supplies, and Halloween treats show my kids that there are people in the world that want to make a positive impact in schools that serve tribal youth.
Thank you so much for focusing your amazing efforts on my students. I guess I want your donors to know that they are making a difference. Love can be showed in many ways and money can be spent in many ways, but your donors recognize that the struggle is real for the Klamath-Trinity Rivers Native People and choose to be proactive and for that we owe you a world of gratitude.
Thank you so much—your donors are amazing!
Sincerely,
Jason L. Henderson, Principal
Jack Norton Elementary School
Weitchpec Yurok Magnet Elementary School
Klamath-Trinity Joint Unified School District
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This thank you letter is from the first grade teacher at Margaret Keating Elementary School on the Yurok Reservation.
October 21, 2021
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
Thank you so much for all of the amazing donations given to our school, including my classroom. I have attached a picture of our Halloween hallway art where we used some of the art supplies we received from your donors. The snacks also have been extremely helpful. Our school district doesn’t supply snacks to our classroom, therefore it is my responsibility or the responsibility of parents to buy snacks for our students.
It has been a huge relief to have a supply of snacks that will last for months. Our students were very excited to receive all the packages as they were delivered. Everything has been wonderful. I am overwhelmed with your generosity. Thank you again.
Sincerely,
Alicia McKellar
First Grade Teacher
Margaret Keating Elementary School
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This thank you letter is from the Principal of Little Singer Community School on the Navajo Nation.
October 21, 2021
Chris,
I cannot tell you how much the families appreciate the items that are donated. Due to Covid, we cannot deliver items to their homes so they come in and get the bagged items that they need. Just want to thank you for everything that you all do – I know that it takes a lot, and when we receive it’s hard to thank each one of you but just let them know that we greatly appreciate all the items that are sent – Christmas gifts from last year, Easter items, back to school things, books for every grade level, Halloween goodies. We are taken to tears when we see kids and families take what they need. Pampers, wipes, powered milk and baby clothes are also taken with a lot of gratitude.
Each one of you will be richly blessed for having such a kind heart and thinking of others during this time of hardship that the country is experiencing. We are beginning to recover but memories of trauma is still strong for kids and families that we deal with on a daily basis.
Again, Thank you so much!!!!!
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This is for the 2021 Christmas gift drives for Lakota children and elders.
September 28, 2021
Dear Chris and Friends of Pine Ridge,
Appreciate all you all have done to make this a reality for all those who otherwise would not have a Christmas.
Blessings to each and every one of you!
Pila Miya Ye (Thank you),
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This is for our ongoing books donation drive for the Margaret Keating Elementary School. Click here to see what books they currently need!
September 27, 2021
Dear Chris and Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
Wok-hlew (Thank you) for your donations to the Margaret Keating School Library on the Yurok Reservation in Klamath, California. After decades of non-library use, our district has invested in our elementary school libraries again and your donation supports our vision for rebuilding the library as a central part of our school community. At MKS we know that having access to books and stories is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to prevent a multitude of academic and social-emotional challenges. We also know the power and impact of stories on our lives. Your donation will help us rebuild an outdated library and bring the love of reading to a new generation of rez kids.
Miigwech (Thank you!)
Chrystal Helton
Margaret Keating Elementary School Library
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Here’s a thank you letter for a donation drive for a Yurok elementary classroom at Margaret Keating Elementary School. Click here for Kindergarten wishes and here for 2nd grade!
September 21, 2021
To our many supporters,
Picture this, 8 giant unmarked boxes roll into my classroom. Kids are inquisitive by nature so they start asking “What’s that Mr. Wright?” I smile a cheeky smile and play dumb. Knowing what’s coming already, I tell them “I don’t know, you should guess” I get a long stream of guesses for the next 10 minutes and many people guess right but it doesn’t even matter if they guessed wrong because when I start unboxing stuff they all lose it. Snacks, books, and art supplies start getting stacked on a nearby desk as the ring of little voices ask “Can I have one?”
This takes me back to a little Mr. Wright and I still remember the teachers that had snacks for me. I grew up below the poverty line and sometimes didn’t have enough to eat. So, I was always hungry and I mean ALWAYS. There were a few teachers that always had snacks for me and I just remember getting things to eat and feeling like I could do anything. Having something in your belly makes learning easier and I can attest to the validity of this statement. FYI, this was just the first delivery.
Day 2 and 3 brought a few more snacks and many new books. These books will benefit the entire school because I lend these books out to other teachers to read to their own classes. One of my favorite things is sitting down and reading to the kids of the entire school. Their teachers also enjoy a short break while I entertain their kids with funny and beautifully illustrated books. In this collection of books there were some amazing resources including many books on mythology.
Day 3-6 some more boxes trickled in revealing some much needed cleaning supplies, aides for cooking (I cook A LOT in my classroom), some more snacks and something that all my students couldn’t wait to sink their teeth into, a graphic novel. Chag Lowry, a Yurok author, wrote an amazing graphic novel that is both representative and well done. As a firm believer that students need to see themselves represented in the stories they read, and shows they watch, this book checks every box.
If you gave FoPRR your mailing address look in the mail for a couple handwritten thank yous from my students. 🙂 Thank you for all the amazing support that was showered upon my classroom.
With gratitude,
Isaiah Wright
M.A.Education
3rd-6th Grade Teacher
Margaret Keating Elementary School
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For our First Families Now book drive!
September 18, 2021
First Families Now on Pine Ridge Rez experienced a fire in their building in Sept. 2021. Here’s a thank you letter for the help we sent.
September 9, 2021
Friends of Pine Ridge,
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This thank you letter is for a school supplies drive for Lakota children.
August 20, 2021
Friends of Pine Ridge,
Thank you all so much for your amazing generosity in providing school supplies for our children in need here on the Pine Ridge reservation. The children were all so happy to receive their backpacks and school supplies! They will start school next week and are excited to be prepared.
Thank you all for all you do. We are so thankful for Friends of Pine Ridge as you all have amazing hearts!
Blessings,
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This thank you letter is from First Families Now for our gardening supplies drive.
July 27, 2021
Friends of Pine Ridge,
Thank you all for your generous donation of gardening items! We have received so many items to start and maintain gardens towards self-sustainability and health. Our families are very happy and excited to dive right into gardening as you have all made it nice to do so with all the items donated.
Pine Ridge reservation has little access to fresh fruit or vegetables and this will certainly empower families to grow their own and take control of their health. Thank you all for your kind hearts and all you do for our families of the Pine Ridge Reservation!
This thank you letter is from Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School for our school supplies drive.
July 26, 2021
Dear Friends of Pine Ridge,
Last year was quite the disappointment for us as we had to go fully virtual. This year we had planned to start fully in person but it turns out that the Tribe would like us to start Hybrid and slowly go to fully in person. That only makes sense to test the waters and keep everyone safe.
With your generosity and care we will open our doors to our students on August 16th to a safe and fully stocked school. What an exciting time for all of us! We are so fortunate to have your support and friendship for sure. My teachers start on the 5th and they are so excited to get started. What a great surprise they will find waiting for them. Thank you all very much for your support. It truly is going to be a great year. God Bless you all.
Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School
This thank you letter is from First Families Now for our children’s shoes and socks drive.
June 13, 2021
Friends of Pine Ridge,
Thank you all for the wonderful Shoes and Socks Drive for our children of the Pine Ridge Reservation. There were many shoes that came in to fit ALL ages! Your donation of shoes and socks has brought much excitement and smiles to our families in great need. There were many children with no shoes and some with very old worn shoes, so they were very excited to have a new pair.
Shoes and socks are always a constant need here, especially throughout the winter months and your donations have helped tremendously in helping families prepare and meet their needs. This was only possible with each and every one of you and your giving hearts! We appreciate all you do in making huge positive differences in the lives of our families.
Sincerely,
Here’s a thank you letter from the Our lady of Lourdes Elementary School on Pine Ridge Reservation for a donation drive we did for the Kindergarten and 8th grade graduation ceremonies.
May 3, 2021
Hi Chris/FoPRR,
I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off trying to get ready for these two celebrations. I have made list after list of all that I need to do and all that needs to be bought to make sure I am ready for these big days. I am overwhelmed at the boxes that continue to come in with all that was needed. I have been frantically crossing items off my lists which has made my life so much easier with your generosity. It is hard enough to come back to being virtual to in person and make sure that we are disinfecting properly, filling our soap and paper towels often so we don’t run out, taking temperatures and making sure that we are building the self-esteem and social skills back up after what this pandemic has caused us all.
My heart just beams with joy knowing that we are going to be able to give our graduates a beautiful ceremony with the help from you all. I was extremely worried because we were fully virtual and had no chances to fundraise for any of this. Once again, your love and kindness came to my rescue. Next Monday, we will celebrate with our Kindergartners to celebrate their moving up to 1st grade. On the 17th, we will celebrate with our 8th graders as we say our goodbyes and send them off onto High School. Thank you all for your wonderful support for our school and our students. We could not have done this without your generosity. May God Bless you all and keep you safe and strong. Wopila (Thank you). God Bless you All.
Sincerely,
Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School
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This thank you letter is from First Families Now for our food drive.
April 22, 2021
Chris and Friends of Pine Ridge,
We at First Families Now would like to thank you all for your generous donation of food to our food drive! You have all given generously to meet the dire need of countless families here on the Pine Ridge Reservation. The food has provided much relief to countless families that struggle to make ends meet. There are many smiles of gratitude from our families.
Thank you all for making a difference for our children and families. You are all greatly appreciated!
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Here’s a thank you letter from Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School on Pine Ridge Reservation for a donation drive for basketballs, soccer balls, storage bags and more.
April 8, 2021
Dear Donors,
Look at what came to my door! We are so thankful for your quick contribution to our needs once again. It will be quite difficult to have PE or recess while the pandemic restrictions are still on but once again, through your generosity you have made this much easier for us.
Our students have been virtual since March of 2020 and they are just itching to come back Monday. We are so excited to be able to open our doors safely again. Thank you very much for your kindness and speed in helping OLL prepare for this special day. We hold each of you in our hearts and prayers and continue to hope for good health and happiness for you all. Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! God Bless you all.
Sincerely,
Theresa Lessert, Principal
Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School
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Here’s a thank you letter from the Metlakatla Indian Community in Alaska for masks, hand sanitizer and fabric.
March 9, 2021
To Chris and your wonderful donors throughout the United States.
The Metlakatla Indian Community would like to thank you so very much for the kind and generous donations of cloth masks, disposable masks, and hand sanitizer as well as material to sew masks for our community.
Your generosity has not gone unnoticed. Those that benefit every day by your donations are safer for it. Again thank you!
Sincerely,
The Metlakatla Indian Community Executives, Council & Residents
Reginald Atkinson, Mayor
Metlakatla Indian Community
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Here’s a thank you letter from the Havasupai Tribe for kids and elders Christmas gifts.
March 1, 2021
Chris/Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation,
Dear Chris,
On behalf of the Havasupai Tribe we thank the Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation for your kind and generous donations during this past holiday season.
Thanks to you nearly 160 children and 176 elders received a gift this Christmas. There were smiles of joy throughout Supai as we distributed the many gifts.
It has been a challenging year for all of us and these gifts made the holiday season a little brighter for us all.
We are extremely grateful that the Havasupai Tribal Community remains safe and healthy with no positive COVID-10 cases recorded. With stringent protocols in place, we have been able to keep the corona virus out of Supai.
Again, we thank you for your generosity and contribution to our small community. We all wish you continued good health and strength.
Sincerely,
Chairwoman Evangeline Kissoon
Havasupai Tribal Council
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Here’s a thank you letter from First Families now for the kids and elders Christmas drives.
February 5, 2021
Friends of Pine Ridge,
I would like to thank you all from the bottom of my heart for your heartfelt donations of Christmas gifts for our elders and children of the Pine Ridge reservation. These gifts were given all given out to our families in need that otherwise would have not had a Christmas. There were countless happy tears of gratitude! Thank you all for making this possible. I can’t thank you enough!
Wishing you all many blessings to you and your families.
Health and Happiness,
Here’s a thank you letter from Maggie’s House Transitional Living Program on Pine Ridge Reservation (for kids who have aged out of foster care) for Christmas gifts for the residents and their babies.
February 2, 2021
On behalf of the Maggie’s House tiyospaye (extended family) we thank your for the outpouring of love and support for our transitional youth and parenting youth and babies! You made their Christmas!
And a big wopila to Chris for always answering our cry for help!
Pauletta Red Willow
Maggie’s House