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Hundreds of designer suits, warm clothes headed to Pine Ridge

'Some of them own three changes of clothes'

Hundreds of designer suits, warm clothes headed to Pine Ridge

'Some of them own three changes of clothes'

ROB: STUDENTS WILL SOON WE ARE BRAND NAME SUITS AT PROM IN A COMMUNITY THAT DESPERATELY NEEDS HELP. JULIE: NEARLY EVERYONE LIVES BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL IN PINE REPORTER: ARMANI, CALVIN KLEIN, DESIGNER SUITS HEADED TO A PLACE THAT NEEDS CLOTHES OF ANY KIND. >> I KNOW THE YOUTH I'VE SEEN ON THE RESERVATION, MANY OWN THREE CHANGES OF CLOTHES. MANY DON'T OWN AS MUCH AS A HEAVY COAT DROIP JOURNALIST KEVIN OBOUREZK LIVED IN THE AREA WHEN HE WAS YOUNG. NOW HE'S LOADING UP 250 SUITS AND OTHER CLOTHES. THEY HAVE RECEIVED DOE NEIGHS OF DRESSES AND GOWNS BUT FEW THINGS FOR MALES. >> YOU CAN IMAGINE SHOWING UP IN PROM AND YOU HAVE CLOTHE THAT WAS BEEN FITTED FOR YOU, EVERYTHING MATCHES, IT'S NOT HOBBLED TOGETHER. CAN MAKE YOU FEEL LIKE THE KING OF THE WORLD. REPORTER: THAT IN A PLACE WHERE 97% OF FAMILIES LIVE BELOW THE POVERTY LEVEL, HIGH SCHOOL DROPOUT RATE IS 40%. >> CLOTHING MAKES PEOPLE FEEL CONFIDENT. REPORTER: ANDREW SHANNON, WHO OWN THIS IS LINCOLN BUSINESS, DONATED THE CLOTHES HSM EHOPES IT WILL MAKE SOMEONE FEEL BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES. >> SOMETIMES WORKING IN THE SUIT OF ARMOR FOR SOMEBODY, IT'S A GREAT FEELING. REPORTER: ANOTHER DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE EFFORT AND A COAT DELIVER THE CLOTHES AN COATS TO PINE RIDGE AND A MESSAGE GLSM WE'RE THINKING ABOUT THEM. COMFORT NEEDS. JUST SURVIVAL UP THERE. REPORTER: SOMETIMES DRESSING SHARP CAN GO A LONG WAY. >> MAKES YOU FEEL LIKE SOMEBODY CARES. MAYBE YOU ACTUA
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Hundreds of designer suits, warm clothes headed to Pine Ridge

'Some of them own three changes of clothes'

Armani, Calvin Klein, are just some of the designer suits headed to a community where clothes of any kind are desperately needed -- the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota."I've seen a lot of the youth that I know on the reservation, some of them own three changes of clothes. Many don't own as much as a heavy coat," said native journalist and editor Kevin Abourezk. Abourezk lived in Pine Ridge for about seven years when he was young. Recently, he helped load 250 suits -- complete with dress shirts, vests, pants, shoes and ties. The items will be taken to the youth after-school program and prom closet his aunt runs in Pine Ridge."They are incredibly excited to receive it up in Pine Ridge. It's just going to make a world of difference in terms of building up the self-esteem of teen-aged boys," Abourezk said. He said in the past the prom closet has received donations of dresses and gowns but few things for males. "If you can image showing up at prom with clothes that are fitted for you, everything matches, it's not hobbled together, can make you feel like the king of the world," Abourezk said.According to 2015 data 97% of the families in Pine Ridge live below the poverty level. The high school dropout rate is 70% and teen suicides are 150% above the national average.Information that Lincoln businessman Andrew Shannon said tugged at his heartstrings."Being the poorest Indian reservation in the country and them not really having a lot," said Shannon.He owns Shannon Formal Wear and donated all of the items."I know that clothing make people feel so much more confident. It's like, sometimes when you're putting on that suit of armor for someone and it's just a great feeling," Shannon said."I just hope for that moment it makes someone feel better," Shannon said. Bill Hawkins is another one of the driving forces behind the prom suit effort and winter coat drive. He will deliver all the clothes to Pine Ridge, along with message from Nebraska."We're thinking about them and some of their comfort needs and just survival up there," Abourezk said sometimes be able to look sharp can go a long way."It makes you feel like someone cares. It makes you feel like maybe you actually matter. Maybe you are actually important and somebody cares enough to get you these things," Abourezk said.The Pine Ridge winter coat drive continues through Dec. 15. The Lincoln Indian Center and The Dandelion Network are also helping and have five drop-off sites. Here is a link for more information on how you can donate.

Armani, Calvin Klein, are just some of the designer suits headed to a community where clothes of any kind are desperately needed -- the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota.

"I've seen a lot of the youth that I know on the reservation, some of them own three changes of clothes. Many don't own as much as a heavy coat," said native journalist and editor Kevin Abourezk.

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Abourezk lived in Pine Ridge for about seven years when he was young. Recently, he helped load 250 suits -- complete with dress shirts, vests, pants, shoes and ties.

The items will be taken to the youth after-school program and prom closet his aunt runs in Pine Ridge.

"They are incredibly excited to receive it up in Pine Ridge. It's just going to make a world of difference in terms of building up the self-esteem of teen-aged boys," Abourezk said.

He said in the past the prom closet has received donations of dresses and gowns but few things for males.

"If you can image showing up at prom with clothes that are fitted for you, everything matches, it's not hobbled together, can make you feel like the king of the world," Abourezk said.

According to 2015 data 97% of the families in Pine Ridge live below the poverty level. The high school dropout rate is 70% and teen suicides are 150% above the national average.

Information that Lincoln businessman Andrew Shannon said tugged at his heartstrings.

"Being the poorest Indian reservation in the country and them not really having a lot," said Shannon.

He owns Shannon Formal Wear and donated all of the items.

"I know that clothing make people feel so much more confident. It's like, sometimes when you're putting on that suit of armor for someone and it's just a great feeling," Shannon said.

"I just hope for that moment it makes someone feel better," Shannon said.

Bill Hawkins is another one of the driving forces behind the prom suit effort and winter coat drive. He will deliver all the clothes to Pine Ridge, along with message from Nebraska.

"We're thinking about them and some of their comfort needs and just survival up there,"

Abourezk said sometimes be able to look sharp can go a long way.

"It makes you feel like someone cares. It makes you feel like maybe you actually matter. Maybe you are actually important and somebody cares enough to get you these things," Abourezk said.

The Pine Ridge winter coat drive continues through Dec. 15. The Lincoln Indian Center and The Dandelion Network are also helping and have five drop-off sites.

Here is a link for more information on how you can donate.