By The Rev. Michelle Dayton, Superintending Presbyter
Above photos: L to R: St. Julias, Porcupine,
Gethsemane, Wanblee & Mediator, Kyle
Our elders and individuals with mobility issues have faced challenges in attending worship services, because the accessible ramps on several of our churches on the Pine Ridge have lost integrity over time. Like you, I was shocked to learn that wooden structures did not last forever in the South Dakota climate. In order to be able to serve all people, regardless of mobility, the Pine Ridge Episcopal Mission council sought ways to respect the dignity of every human being by ensuring safe access to our churches. This project is not new, and star quilts were auctioned at the Niobrara Convocation in 2023 to begin to raise funds for this purpose.
Identifying a need is always the first stage in any project; finding partners and resources is critical, unless, like the Little Red Hen, you can do it all by yourself. Our partners included the Diocesan Building Repair Grant fund, multiple financial donors and the Green Team, a program in Batesland that organizes work projects in the community and employs high school students during the summer.
Often, it is a challenge to write a grant because so much advance work needs to be done: How much will it cost for supplies and labor? What preliminary work needs to be done?
This summer, we are seeing the fruit of that preparatory work! The donors, the grant program, and the Green Team combined to enable the building of three new ramps this summer at Gethsemane Episcopal Church, Wanblee; Mediator Episcopal Church, Kyle; and St. Julia’s Episcopal Church, Porcupine. This work is not a cosmetic issue; it is about safety and access, because all of God’s children should be able to gather in a church and not be impeded by stairs.
The Green Team is comprised of community members in Wakpamni Lake District, is all-inclusive and serves the community in their different areas of expertise: gardening, construction, cleaning, and setting up for community events. They set up for wakes and funerals, dig graves, serve in the community garden, and participate in setting up and cleaning for Pow-wow and other community celebrations. During the summer, there are youth who participate and have the opportunity to learn new skills, and even young children who participate in the work and cleaning during Pow-wow.
The Green Team is a grass-roots organization that supports the community and plans for seasonal needs and expenses. This allows the board to prioritize projects in harmony with the seasons, since the summer is optimal for building and gardening. It is directed by community leadership and plugs into the existing community calendar with assistance and support. The Green Team is the best of us: Serving the community and respecting the dignity of every person.