West River Eagle

The Spirit of Volunteerism at the Sioux YMCA


This has been a true year of giving so far at the Sioux YMCA. The Sioux YMCA has had the privilege to host 16 volunteer groups this year with more still to come. They have hailed from as far away as Massachusetts and Washington State giving up their time to come and learn about and experience the Lakota culture in person while also spending time everyday to play and spend time with the youth in various communities. 

Each group typically stays for around a week and that time is spent engaged with local cultural presenters, service projects and time with our youth at camp. Most groups also take the time before they come to design their own games and run them while they are here with the kids and it’s always an amazing time. A great example of this is a group from two weeks ago which comes from Washington State every summer and runs the Olympic themed day camp week. It’s full of giant group games where you will get wet and smaller sessions of arts and crafts where the kids get more one on one time to learn new skills. 

The cultural presenters that are booked will speak to the groups on many topics such as the history of the Lakota Sioux that most people do not know, along with local culture and customs. Also, they will present on local artwork and its significance to them and the community.    

This summer the Sioux YMCA made a very special partnership with a St. Louis group called Bridge Builders. They came out here with a busload of their youth and volunteered all week but at the end they did something above and beyond. They took 6 youth back to St. Louis for a week of learning back in their neighborhood. It was an eye-opening experience and one we cannot wait to continue for many years to come.

All the groups have accomplished many different service projects while here. It took three groups over the course of a month to tackle the sanding and painting of the rodeo ground stands in Dupree. Some groups helped build cabins at Camp Marrowbone Sioux YMCA’s resident camp. Others have help build up and maintain the community garden also here in Dupree. The Sioux YMCA tries to get out in the communities as much as possible to help with as many projects possible. Annually groups help set up and run some of the activities at the Iron Lightning Powwow. The groups also help with the Dupree Powwow and the Pioneer Days as well. Even when the only project that can be done is picking up trash the tasks no matter how big or small are still impactful.   

One of the most dedicated groups comes in waves of 6 every 2 weeks from the Minnesota twin cities YMCA’s. They make the drive down here every summer to help with the feeding programs in the Bear Creek and Cherry Creek communities where the feeding program is held every Monday through Friday all summer with over 650 children fed this summer with their help. 

“These are people who continue to push me, who lead by example, whose compassion lights up an entire room and of whose love I am blessed to have in my life year-round. They understand something that most wouldn’t care to think twice about. That we live in a world where individualism counts, where ignorance, arrogance and greed are eating into its core, a world where it is easy to take the easy path and look away. Whether we are vociferous or silent, we create a ripple effect in the communities we live in for we have a collective belief that we must stand together, hand in hand, for what affects you, affects me too. “

-Mark Barron, Sr. Youth Development Director

YMCA volunteers pose outside of the Maplewood United Methodist Church. Photo submitted

YMCA volunteers come from all over the United States to help and to learn. Photo submitted

There is one more truth that we know – no one makes it alone. Oprah Winfrey once said “Everyone who has achieved some success in life was able to do so because something or someone served as a beacon of light. What seems to be an endless cycle of generational poverty and despair can be broken if each is willing to be a light to the other. When you learn, teach. When you get, give because love means nothing if you don’t share it.” That is the true spirit of volunteerism.

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