Standing Rock families are now facing a deadly outbreak of Covid-19. With a high number of elderly, diabetic, asthmatic, heart diseased, cancer-afflicted, and other high-risk individuals — We are facing unprecedented challenges.
Our community lacks access to many basic health care supplies. Most households do not have thermometers, for example, defibrillators are non-existent, and only 3 ambulances serve an area the size of Connecticut.
With Covid-19, our nearly non-existent emergency medical services has been overwhelmed, compounding the number of fatalities during this public health crisis.
Many families in Standing Rock live in multi-generational homes which pose a challenge for self-isolating and quarantining. Standing Rock also regularly has roughly 80% unemployment, and with the impact of Covid-19, families are struggling to access both food and basic essential necessities. So, please give if you can.
In these unprecedented times, we need your allyship and support.
Our Goal:
To help individuals in our community, especially the elderly and high risk individuals, and families with children.
Medical Supplies & Equipment:
We need medical supplies and equipment. Our communities lack many basic health care supplies. For example, we need thermometers to monitor fevers & pulse oximeters to monitor the oxygen levels of those who have Covid-19.
Local Ambulances:
We need to acquire and equip local ambulances, and other vehicles that can transport patients. Nearly all emergency calls now are Covid-19 related, and people are dying because only 3 ambulances serve an area roughly the size of Connecticut.
Set Up Telemedicine:
We need tablets or laptops, and portable wifi hotspots. We live in remote areas, with telemedicine, a visit with a medical professional would be possible. Telemedicine would help with both cutting down unnecessary visits to the hospital, as well as identify those who need to be transported to the hospital before it becomes a medical emergency.
Basic Essentials for the Most Vulnerable:
We need to supply our elders and the high-risk with basic essentials. We also need to help under-housed kids and families who are living in campers and basements in order to isolate from their elders during Covid-19 with basic essentials: heat, clean water, sleeping bags, clots, laundry detergent, and soap.
PPE & Cleaning Supplies
We need PPE: K-95 masks, cloth masks, face shields, isolation gowns, gloves (nitrile or sterile). We also need cleaning supplies to disinfect our areas of work or to wash these items.
Walkers, Wheelchairs & Mobility Devices:
We need walkers and wheelchairs and toilet seat risers. Covid-19 social distancing is impossible if we have to carry our relatives around. People are often discharged from the hospital without any mobility device. This poses issues for caretakers and social distancing!
Who We Are:
Our team is composed of Standing Rock frontline workers and descendants of medicine people. We are the Lakota Well-Being Project, a nonprofit dedicated to the spiritual path of WoLakota as protectors of Unci Maka (Grandmother Earth) and the most vulnerable in our communities. We are devoted to serving Oyate (Our People) by cultivating healing, health, and wellness. This is the Lakota Way — The way of our ancestors. Our service to our community is our prayer in action. Wicozani Wakan Ota Akupi. Mitakuye Oyasin. (Bringing Back Many Sacred Healings. We Are All Relatives.)
How the Funds will be Used:
The funds from this campaign will be used to make direct purchases, or reimbursement of purchases by volunteers of the items listed above (Medical supplies and equipment, local ambulances, basic essentials for elders and families with children, telemedicine equipment and services, mobility devices, etc). The funds will also be used to cover the shipping and delivery of these supplies in order to keep our beneficiaries socially distanced. We will also invest in a media campaign to urge people to stay home, socially distance, embrace sterilizing practices, and implement other public education initiatives in regards to health & emergency medical services.
This campaign is not associated with the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe government. Instead, this fundraiser is an initiative of Lakota Well-Being Project, a grassroots, Indigenous-led, nonprofit organization.
The Standing Rock Grassroots Covid-19 Relief Fund is a fundraising campaign of Lakota Well-Being Project, a charitable organization. EIN: 85-3905 298