Hundreds of designer suits, warm clothes headed to Pine Ridge
'Some of them own three changes of clothes'
'Some of them own three changes of clothes'
'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.