ADOPT A GRANDPARENT PROGRAM IN NEED OF MORE PARTICIPANTS AND SOME COMPUTERS!
The ADOPT A GRANDPARENT PROGRAM is a unique Native Elders Assistance Program
in its seventh year of operation. After three elders were found frozen to
death in their cabins on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota in the
Winter of 1987, seven Lakota grandmothers sat down together and set out the
guidelines of a program to support the elderly people in their community.
Among the Lakota, the word 'adopt' has a strong meaning. 'Making relations'
is a key traditional value. AGP was born out of this tradition of extended of
extended family. These grandmothers understood the many problems confronting
the elders and their families who often lack adequate housing, food,
electricity, and heating in Winter; where basic survival is a daily concern.
Many are totally dependent on others to buy food, pay bills, haul water and
wood, and help with daily tasks.
AGP provides assistance by coordinating people, resources and organizations
from all over the country sending material goods such as clothing, blankets,
household items and food directly to elders in need. Food, propane and
electricity assistance is provided through Gift Certificates paid directly
to grocery stores and utility companies .
When a sponsor joins the AGP Membership Circle they are sent a list of elders
in need from
which they choose someone to sponsor. They may either send material
contributions such as
food, clothing, craft supplies etc. directly to the elder or send cash gifts
to the
RED OWL MEMORIAL ELDERS ENERGY FUND for food and energy Gift Certificates. In
1994 AGP generated more than $81,000.00 worth of material goods sent directly
from our sponsors to elders and their families on the Pine Ridge Reservation
and approximately $15,000.00 worth of food and energy gift certificates.
The Adopt A Grandparent Program is not funded by the government. Funding and
support comes from volunteers, memberships, grants from family foundations
and gifts from individuals and businesses. Our sponsors come from all walks
of life, including; people who were adopted out of their native culture,
wishing to have some connection to their roots, people who never knew
their grandparents, non-Indian elderly, classrooms of children of all ages,
people in prison, church groups, and people who genuinely want to share.
The program provides sponsors with the opportunity to come to know and care
for a consciously chosen extended family member. The elders are provided with
the name and address of their sponsor so they may write letters and
communicate directly, resulting in a cross cultural/cross generational
exchange.
We hope to connect people who want to share with people who need support, to
facilitate an important exchange of understanding and good will through
direct action and cooperation.
This coming together of sponsors and elders remains the heart of the program.
The following page has a list of Winter Needs for AGP. If you can help, call
us quick!!
For more info send your mailing address through Email or regular mail.
Mountain Light Center is a member of Southwest Learning Centers Inc.
a non profit educational organization based in Santa Fe.
MOUNTAIN LIGHT CENTER
P.O.BOX 241 TAOS,NM87571
Tel. 505-776-8474
Email: agpmlc@aol.com