FAMILIES WORKING TOGETHER INC
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Mission Statement
Families Working Together (FWT) is an non-profit organization that is focused on promoting improvements for the Oglala Sioux People on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. FWT helps through the improvement of housing, providing food, clothing, furniture and household items, and providing food and safe social activities for the children. We are here to help meet the needs of the community and surrounding areas Our goal is to eradicate poverty by improving sustainable livelihoods through self-food production, housing and sanitation improvement, and on-the-job training with an emphasis on enabling individuals to work toward becoming self-sufficient in meeting their own needs. FWT operations in Wanblee is located on the northern section of the reservation near the Badlands. The goal of FWT is to provide humanitarian assistance to residents by saving lives, alleviate suffering, and maintaining and protecting the human dignity of the Oglala Sioux People.
About This Cause
Families Working Together (FWT) a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit organization established in October 2013 with working headquarters in South Dakota, focuses on supporting and strengthening families on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. Working directly from Wanblee, South Dakota, FWT promotes the improvement of the Oglala Lakota People with an emphasis on empowering individuals to become self-sufficient. We first and foremost believe in promoting positive working relationships within the community as well as working as a liaison in networking with other organizations and individuals off the reservation who wish to be of assistance. Working directly from the FWT community center that is in the heart of Wanblee, SD we packed and provided over 1450 weekend meals to school children during the last school year. We passed out school clothes and supplies, personal hygiene items, diapers and baby food, blankets, books, food, furniture, household supplies to just list a few. This is an ongoing activity in Wanblee and surrounding areas. During the recent pandemic we partnered with local organizations to provide over 400 food and medicine packs to elderly every 3 weeks all the across the Pine Ride Reservation for well over a year. In an effort to eradicate the food shortage we run a food pantry with the assistance of numerous volunteer organizations that donate food and the help from Feeding South Dakota, we are able to provide food boxes to those families that are in need. Because we believe that "Food is Medicine" we have two community gardens, one of which is a hoop house which extends the growing season. We also promote the growing of individual gardens by offering gardening classes and we help with seeds, tools and resources for individuals to help in growing their own food. We also have classes in food preservation such as cooking, canning, freezing and dehydrating foods. We promote and host training in foraging local foods with a Gathering Summit where we utilize local as well as other individuals who know about harvesting and utilizing traditional foods and medicines. We provide community take home meals as well as providing meals to those who should come by in need of food. FWT promotes reading by providing a well stocked library inside the community center as well as a small lending library outside the building where in the winter months we provide, in addition to books, snack packs with sandwiches, fruit and hot chocolate mix. We also have a children's art center and toys to play with when parents are volunteering in the center. Because we believe the residents know their needs best, we advocate and encourage local involvement in the programs we promote. We have an area within our building which houses a sewing/craft center equipped with necessary supplies and equipment to aid individuals to create and learn new skills. It is our hope that we can encourage individuals to become entrepreneurs and provide much needed income for themselves and their families. We support and promote safe activities for children and provide special activities during holidays and special events. This includes but is not limited to food, gifts, movie nights etc. If you would like to help us with these positive changes, please consider a financial tax deductible donation to the organization. On behalf of the families on the reservation, thank you in advance.