Sidney L Smith Post #24, along with several other American Legion posts in the state of South Dakota, is supporting the creation of the Rosebud Activities Program (RAP).  This program is a joint venture of the Rosebud Tribal Council and South Dakota State University that is intended as a long-term recreational program for the youth of all communities on the Rosebud Reservation.  

The overall scope of the program includes the development or restoration of playing fields and other recreation areas, coaching clinics, summer internships, and other activities to provide organized recreation, leadership and positive role models to the youth in the area.

To help support this program, the Aberdeen Legion is collecting used, but serviceable, sporting equipment that can be reconditioned and provided to RAP to help them put together the type of recreation that will allow their youth a positive experience, the type we all wish our children to have when they are growing up, but that to many children of Rosebud are denied.

To quote Robert Semrad of Brookings, one of the organizers of the collection:

"The youth of the Rosebud Sioux Indian Reservation face poverty and despair the very moment they are born.  The lack of economic development has led to a lack of housing and jobs, along with a wide array of social problems such as unemployment, crime, under achievement in academics, and school attendance problems.  This phenomenon is at the root of poverty.  Forty-seven percent of the children under 18 live below the poverty level.  The youth live in overcrowded housing, face hunger (malnutrition), diseases, sleep deprivation, and a lack of a healthy lifestyle in the homes.  It is common to have three or more families living in an 850 sq. ft house.  The youth have reported in many communities that there is nothing to do and that there is too much idleness.  Youth can be seen walking in the streets throughout the night in virtually every community.  Alcohol and Drug Abuse is in epidemic proportions.  There is a large gang population growing, resulting in violence and more need for public safety.  Teenage pregnancy on the reservation is 44 per 1,000 while the state average is 17 per 1,000.  In January and February of this year 240 teen suicide attempts were reported; in one two-week period, five teen suicides were accomplished"

Clearly there is a need to provide organized, positive, group activities to the youth of this area.  Sports can be a unifying and motivating force for children who would otherwise feel lonely, outcast, and despondent.  Athletics can help create self esteem, leadership, and team work, and also allows a way to release the stress of day-to-day living.  Staples like T-ball, baseball, soccer, basketball, and football are key goals, but even sports such as fishing derbies, and frisbee golf can give the youth in the area a sense of pride and usefulness.  Even recreational events like canoeing, skateboarding, and ice skating that help to bring joy to a child short on it, can make a huge difference in their outlook on life.  

Where ever you are, what ever community you belong to, children are the future.  If we can help them, they can learn how to help themselves and hopefully break out of the cycle of poverty and despair that they were born into.

For this reason, Sidney L Smith post #24 of the South Dakota Department of The American Legion is asking the people of the Hub City and surrounding area to help us help the youth on the Rosebud Reservation.  Many people have old equipment around the house, some if it may even have been in storage since our own children outgrew it.  The Aberdeen Legion will be collecting this equipment from now until the end of September.  Donations can be dropped off at the VFW building (821 Circle Drive) or you may contact the post and we will pick it up from you.  

Any type of sports or recreational equipment will be accepted.  Damaged but serviceable items will be repaired (bats taped, missing shoe laces replaced, nets retied, etc), so don't feel the need to withhold donations because they aren't "like new"; if you would use it in a pinch, some of these kids will probably be grateful to have it.

The following list is suggested donations, but any type of recreational or sporting equipment is greatly appreciated:

T-ball tees.
Baseballs
Softballs
Bats
Gloves
Catcher's gear
Bases
Shoes
Basketballs
Soccer balls
Kick balls
Footballs
Volleyballs/nets
Tennis balls/racquets
Golf clubs/balls/tees
Youth Bowling Balls
Skateboards
Knee/Elbow pads
Helmets (batting/bicycle/etc)
In-line skates
Ice skates (hockey or figure)
Hockey Sticks/pucks
Skis (downhill or cross country)
Badminton racquets/shuttles/nets
Croquet sets
Frisbees
Inner tubes
Canoes
Kayaks
Fishing poles/tackle

The Tribal Resource Development Office, in a May 4th, 2007 report, said "Due to the high number of suicides and gang violence it has become a necessity to develop a highly structured program that is performance based.  Tribal youth affairs will take on new efforts to assist youth in becoming leaders in their communities."
 We here in Aberdeen can help them to achieve this goal by doing nothing more then cleaning out our attics and garages, so lets lend them a hand.

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