Christmas 2003
5th Year
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Once again we would like to Thank all the generous hearts and souls out there, you gave so much that it touched so many families. So on behalf of a grateful people THANK YOU!

This years annual Toy, Clothing, Food drive was a little smaller than last year. Yet 24 skids of Clothing, Toys and Food touched many families.

Once again CCX/Conway Trucking donated the delivery to Rosebud, SD. This year the Trailer was so full it took over 20 minutes to get the door clear to close! The Lakota People of Rosebud Reservation are truly thankful for your gifts and simply remembering them. (Lakota is what the proper term is, historically you've known these wonderful people as the Sioux)

This years drive filled 24 skids and that is allot of needed items. Once again Jeff Madewell, of Milton, OH, organized the selfless donations from community stores. Due to the donation of the warehouse they've used for the past 4 years, they we're able to pack, seal and load the entire trailer with your gifts, which made it to 'Rosebud Sicangu Lakota Reservation' in Rosebud, SD almost a week before Christmas, giving Volunteers there the opportunity to unload, sort and distribute the items to those in need.

Let us take the opportunity to let you know that No one makes a dime on any of this. We do not take any administrative fees, there are no salaries. Even all the running around procuring items (gas, etc.) is given by folks like Jeff Madewell who head up the Christmas Drive. Not only that but Jeff, a musician by profession, donates shows, and concerts (that includes his band, and their families) to generate cash to make this all possible. So yes this is a labor of Love, and I know of no gift more precious than your own time given to help others. Creator Bless those that give, seeking nothing in return but the knowledge that your efforts have reached out and helped people in need.

Jeff has a challenge for other communities. Milton, OH is a city of about 8000 people. If Milton, OH can raise enough to fill 24 skids, and yes it did not start out that large, the first year it was 7 skids or pallets as otherwise known, then what can your community do?

There is a vision here and Milton was the first to step up and begin to make it a reality.

The Vision:
Imagine your community or city sponsoring a Tribe or a Nation, for example the White Mountain Apache in 2002, were devastated by the fires that swept through. We'd like to see someone step up take them as their goal and start a drive from their community to focus on them. Or the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation Oglala Nation. Again a very impoverished people and we send items directly to Traditional Leaders rather than the Tribal Offices to insure items get distributed to those in need and not just friends and family.

This challenge is not for Reservations that have income producing revenue, but those that have No visible means. There are more in that category than in the well to do. Contact us and we'll gladly let you know who is and who is not in need. We'll be glad to help you get started.

One of our main focus is we never send directly to any Government be it Tribal or other as our focus is not red tape, nor friends and family. Sorry if you find this offensive but we are reaching out to the people not those of paid position, and though I'm sure there might be some who are honest enough, we don't seek to challenge that. We want these goods to go directly to those in real need.

So we have knowledge of Traditional Elders who do that on their own, they may not have much to work with but they're the sort of folks who if they have a dime it's yours if you need it.

Again we don't give money to anyone. We may purchase LP Gas from the local provider for folks, or give Pre Paid Gas cards, or Phone Cards, along with Clothing, Canned Food Goods (yes Coffee!) and Toys. Contact us for further information.

So up to a challenge, a selfless gift to others that don't have near what we waste? Want to make a difference in someone's life? It is a Good Day.

By the way, want to understand the relationship of everything? In Lakota we say, Mitakuye Oyasin, translated it means We Are All Related. Now this goes beyond we as humans being related, it means that everything God or the Creator, (it's one and the same, and it's up to us to embrace it.) Anything created by The Creator, which is everything, is related, it is life.
There is a wonderful movie that explains this 'Scientifically' called Mindwalk, stars Liv Ullman do yourself a favor and find it and share it. It will open your mind and give us a chance to save this planet and see others in a different way. What do you have to loose? Hopefully it can change a concept that once worked but now works against where we need to be to survive and grow.

With great love and deep respect for all you do to help others, Mitakuye Oyasin - We Are ALL Related. $1200 in donations were raised for Food and Toys to go along with the donated Food, Clothing and Toys.

All of us at Essencial Dreams

The city of Versailles, OH joined on to the challenge this year. Thank you and bless you for all you did. We hear you're planning on helping again in 2004, thank you once again!

Items can be sent to:
Jeff Madewell
252 N. Jay St
W. Milton, OH 45383
Phone: 937-698-7797
Email: Project 2005