October and November are months wherein Native American cultures are honored. This was the case at The Terrace this fall. The Terrace residents are active participants in life, always wanting to expand their knowledge and their circle of friendship. This past summer residents of the Terrace Retirement Community honored and celebrated the culture of the Lakota Oglala Sioux tribe which is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in the southwestern area of South Dakota. After hearing about a Terrace employee’s cultural immersion experience on the Pine Ridge Reservation this past June during the Terrace’s weekly Discussion Group, two representatives from the summer “Pay It Forward” Bingo group presented the suggestion to share their summer Bingo earnings to benefit the children living on the Lakota Reservation.
The Terrace residents were greatly concerned to learn that the Pine Ridge Lakota live in the poorest county in the US. with 97% the Native population living far below the US federal poverty line. The Infant mortality rate is the highest on our continent. The “Pay it Forward” Group shared Bingo Earnings of $250 to the Pine Ridge Reconciliation Center, $150 to The Native American Heritage Center in Rapid City SD, and $325.00 to the Oglala Sioux Tribe Partnership for Housing/Fraggle Rock community and a final August -October donation of $300 split between the Reconciliation Center and Fraggle Rock in honor of Native American Day, which is held on the 2nd Monday in October in lieu of Columbus Day. Each donation provided summer food such as fruit, milk, cereal, bread, eggs and a weekly hot meal for the children.
This action shows that Terrace Residents are kind people who have put their desire to help others in need into ACTION. As a family member of one of our residents said, “THIS is the kind of community where I would like to live when I am a senior citizen! It is not an isolated place but a living, concerned, warm community that is still involved with life and helping others! It shows that indeed The Terrace is a place where people love to live!
