Prior Lake, Minnesota - To share in the holiday spirit and make the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays a little brighter for those who are less fortunate, the Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community awarded $236,472 in charitable donations for the 2008 holiday season. The donations, which went to 42 social service organizations mostly in the Twin Cities, are providing toys, clothing, food, activities, and other gifts for families this holiday season.

“The holiday season can be hard for those who are less fortunate so we like to help out where we can. We've been blessed, and we're grateful for the opportunity to help others,” said SMSC Chairman Stanley Crooks.

The largest amount given to one organization was $20,000 to the CAP Agency serving Scott, Dakota, and Carver counties in Minnesota for their annual Thanksgiving and Christmas programs for families needing assistance. The CAP Agency is a non-profit organization serving children, families, and senior citizens.

The Salvation Army in Minneapolis received $12,000 for their Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and gifts. The Little Earth Community Partnership in Minneapolis received $11,110 for their holiday program.

A $10,000 donation was also made to Union Gospel Mission, the Minneapolis American Indian Center, and the American Indian Family Center for the holidays.

The Upper Midwest American Indian Center, the Department of Indian Works (St. Paul), and the Dorothy Day Center each received a donation of $9,000 for their holiday programs. The Division of Indian Work in Minneapolis received $8,000 for their program.

The Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate in South Dakota received $6,902 for transportation of toys to the reservation and to Fort Berthold from the Twin Cities. The Minnesota Army National Guard received $2,000 to help buy presents for the patients at the Children's Hospital in St. Paul.

Other organizations in the Twin Cities receiving SMSC holiday donations are: Ain Dah Yung, All Nations Church, American Indian Services, the Carver Scott Educational Coop, Elders Lodge, First Nations Recovery Center, Indian Fellowship, Intertribal Elders Services, Kateri, Minnesota Indian Women's Resource Center, Minnesota Compassion, Women of Nations, People Serving People, St. Joseph's Home for Children, and the Prior Lake Lion's Club.

In other areas the SMSC made holiday donations to: Boys & Girls Club of the Three Districts, the Black Hills American Indian Center, Browns Valley Family Service Center, the Cass Lake Community Family Service Center, the Cheyenne Children Services, the Cheyenne River Youth Project, Dakota Woodlands, Haskell University Children’s Christmas Party, He Sapa New Life, Indian Youth of America, St. Joseph's Indian School, the United Church of Christ, and the Yankton Sioux Housing Authority.

The SMSC will also donate grocery gift cards to low-income Native American families living in Scott County. In addition to the financial contributions, SMSC members and staff participate in a Giving Tree Program, which gives presents anonymously to children in Native American families in need that live in the county.

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