YOU CAN HELP: West Seattleites collecting items to take to Standing Rock

cannonballhighway

Two West Seattleites have been working on a plan to help the demonstrators who are gathered with the Standing Rock Sioux, 1,200 miles from here [map], trying to change the route of an oil pipeline. They are planning to travel to the site next month and collecting community donations if you are interested in helping. Here’s their message and plan:

BE A PART OF THE STANDING ROCK PROTEST AND HELP THE WATER PROTECTORS IN NORTH DAKOTA.

Standing between poisoned water and the people living from the Dakotas to New Orleans are a few hundred tents on the prairie. It gets very cold on the prairie in North Dakota.

THE PROBLEM:

The proposed path of the Dakota Access Pipeline goes under the Missouri River just a half mile from the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation, threatening the water of the entire region, from the Dakotas to New Orleans. The DAPL company expects construction to be complete in January, with highly explosive oil from the Bakken region ready to flow.

THE SOLUTION:

Move this “safe” pipeline back to its original route north of Bismarck and away from the water. This is the only thing the Sioux tribe and their supporters are asking for. This is why they are camping on the prairie in the direct path of the pipeline.

OUR PLAN:

We are driving from West Seattle, hopefully with a truck or trailer full of supplies, to the Standing Rock Sioux at Sacred Stone Camp for Thanksgiving to show our support for their cause and sacrifice in protecting the water. We would like to give you the opportunity to show your support and gratitude as well.

There are two ways you can support this.

1. We will be taking donated items (see list) at the following locations for the next 3 weeks.
2. You can make a direct financial contribution to those protesting. (see links)

MATERIAL DONATION SITES:

Saturdays: November 5th, 12th, and 19th, between 8 a.m. and noon.
Westside Unitarian Universalist Congregation at 7141 California Ave SW.

Weekly: Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. (until the 19th)
Duwamish Tribal Services at 4705 West Marginal Way SW

*Please note that we are not a 501c3 charity and any donations are non-tax-deductible. Any financial donation should be made through the suggested links.*

SUPPLY LIST:
(as requested by the Sacred Stone Camp)

Warm Winter Clothes (good condition only please)

****Gloves, Wool Hats, Socks and Sweaters
****Insulated Coats and Pants

Sleeping Bags / Blankets for subzero temperatures
Thermal Bed Rolls
Winter Tents / Heavy Duty Canvas

DIRECT DONATION LINKS:

sacredstonecamp.org
standingrock.org
democracynow.org

We welcome any suggestions and comments from our community and will do our best to reply to WSB posts.

Giles Stanton and Cathy Morgan

57 Replies to "YOU CAN HELP: West Seattleites collecting items to take to Standing Rock"

  • Sarah October 30, 2016 (8:49 am)

    Cathy Morgan:

    I sent you an email regarding the possibility of collaborating. We have vehicles to donate. Please check your Linkedin message box. Cheers!

    • Cannonball Too October 30, 2016 (5:02 pm)

      Hi Sarah, 

      I sent you a reply.  Please look at Rose’s offer to drive below — perhaps you can team up with her!

  • Lisa October 30, 2016 (9:17 am)

    Thank you so much for sharing this very important story— we’ll help as we are able!

  • Danny Littlejohn October 30, 2016 (1:11 pm)

    This is the response to the horrible CNN reporting. 

    https://m.facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=10154785243854662&id=667294661

    • Vanessa October 30, 2016 (10:32 pm)

      Agreed. CNN coverage is terrible.

  • Rose October 30, 2016 (2:17 pm)

    Any contact info? I also wanted to offer driver/car services….

    • Cannonball Too October 30, 2016 (8:39 pm)

      Rose:

      There is talk about a caravan.  We will let you know.  Thanks for your great offer.

      • Lindsay October 31, 2016 (12:30 pm)

        I’m planning in heading to Cannon Ball on 11/10. Can I take a load? Is there info on the caravan?

        • Jack November 5, 2016 (11:02 am)

          Lindsay, 

          I’m writing a story on the situation at Standing Rock. Would you be willing to meet up and talk about your trip you plan taking there? I’d love to hear from you. Let me know (jrusstravel@gmail.com)

    • Stevie October 31, 2016 (10:21 am)

      I have been looking to see if there will be a caravan. My vehicle wouldn’t be able to make it all the way but I would really like to go and am looking for a ride. I come with gas money and more supplies. 

  • Jennifer October 30, 2016 (8:05 pm)

    This is wonderful! Thank you for your actions! The sense of urgency is now! Waiting for a month to collect donations is not efficient. I was on the stand in solidarity conf call tonite and the need is now. If there is a way to expedite this process I believe it would be more beneficial. Thank you again! 

    • Cannonball Too October 30, 2016 (8:42 pm)

      Jennifer:

      We agree.  That is why there are the links where people can donate directly and immediately.  As far as the trip goes, I am a high school teacher and cannot get off enough time until then.  Also, we conceived this around our desire to spend Thanksgiving properly, in service to the camp.  

      Let’s hope we can fill a truck with warm gear for these dedicated people.

  • Vikki October 30, 2016 (10:05 pm)

    When will you be driving out to the camp? I’m in portland trying to figure out my options for getting there, preferribly part of a caravan.

  • Lisa October 30, 2016 (10:35 pm)
    Amazing work!  I am happy to contribute supplies and cash for gas. It’s been on my mind a lot, and you don’t know the things that you can do. Thank you for having the time of the commitment for this effort! I will stop at one of the donation sites ASAP! 
    • Cannonball Too October 31, 2016 (8:56 am)

      Hi Lisa — LOVE your enthusiasm!

      Please do visit either of our donated item drop-off sites whenever it’s convenient for you.  While your offer of gas money is very kind, unfortunately, we can’t accept any cash.

      If you want to contribute cash to the cause, please use the links we suggested and donate directly to the Tribe (or give cash to our local Duwamish Tribe and drop off your donated items at the same time).

  • Pam Wellington October 30, 2016 (11:33 pm)

    Will you be coming through Spokane? Is there anything I can do to help get donations here in Spokane that you could pick up along the way?

    • Cannonball Too October 31, 2016 (8:46 am)

      Hi Pam,

      Our route will not go through Spokane, but there is a Spokane gentleman with a Crowdrise fund who has made one trip and is planning another.  Surely you could find and contact him online through Crowdrise.com.

      Thank you for your eagerness to contribute.

  • Rose2 October 31, 2016 (12:24 am)

    Thank you for this post.

  • Lisanne October 31, 2016 (12:28 am)

    I, along with a few others will be leaving from Washington on 11/14 and will be there for a week. We haven’t decided if we were going to drive all the supplies and donations we collected over or fly them and rent a vehicle to deliver them and use for the week. Anything we collect and cannot transport or we collect after we will surly pass along to you to make sure they get to Sacred Stone Camp. Thank you!

    • Cannonball Too October 31, 2016 (8:50 am)

      Fantastic, Lisanne.  Thank you for everything you’re doing.  We hope your trip is uplifting and beneficial for all persons involved.  We look forward to learning how it went; please give us a report!

    • Cannonball Too November 11, 2016 (8:16 am)

      Lisanne:

      We should coordinate our drives.  Can you come to the caravan meeting tomorrow afternoon?  

      We have a great amount of stuff.  Will your group have any room?  

      And it would be great to have a contact out there to help with our trip.

      Thanks in advance,

      Cannon Ball 1

  • M October 31, 2016 (12:33 am)

    Do you have an email that folks can reach you at?

    I’m interested in coming along, depending on what dates.

    Thanks!

  • Blair October 31, 2016 (11:39 am)

    Hi, I am interested in joining a caravan too. 

  • G October 31, 2016 (3:29 pm)

    I saw firewood listed on the supplylist  http://sacredstonecamp.org/supply-list/ here, but not above.  Should we bring firewood to the locations listed for West Seattle area?  thank you so much for organizing this so we can help.  much love to all the protectors <3

    • Cannonball Too November 1, 2016 (1:55 pm)

      Hello G,

      Please do not drop off firewood, or any items other than those we’ve specified.  There are a lot of materials on the Camp’s supply list that we elected not to include in our collection due to our limitations on weight, space and time.  But, we included the link to their supply list to make it easier for others to see their needs and address different ones as they’re able.  Certainly a caravan of volunteers on a week or month-long trip could carry a great deal more.  Please don’t let this discourage you, thank you for your interest!

  • Kat Seide October 31, 2016 (4:49 pm)

    I have seen multiple statements from the camps saying they don’t need more clothes other than winter coats and sweaters. Please be considerate and donate only what is requested here. The camps have a surplus of clothes

  • Mardi November 1, 2016 (7:34 am)

    Very cool! And don’t be fooled by the CNN article! Of course there are going to be two sides to every story and some times more. But the whole point of protesting isn’t to make everyone comfy and cozy! CNN should be pleading with law enforcement to stop sending officers from other places instead! The Standing Rock protests would be way less violent without all of the weapons. Just man facing man. The more anti protesters=more protesters! we could barricade the officers barricading the camp!

  • Vikki November 1, 2016 (10:54 am)

    Search “Standing Rock Rideshare” on Facebook and connect with people through there too!

  • birdrescuer November 1, 2016 (2:05 pm)

    Please check most recent list of needs.  Clothing is NOT needed.

    • Cannonball Too November 2, 2016 (5:32 pm)

      Hello,  it’s good to see so many people so tuned into the Camp’s online presence!

      I wrote yesterday to them and received a note back today saying they do still need winter camping gear and clothes.  They referred me to the supply list at the website included in our original document which states: “At this time we have a surplus of clothing and are only seeking very warm, good condition coats, sweaters and other winter wear.”  

      So, indeed, please don’t drop off clothing that isn’t winter weight.  It’s going to be 4 degrees with the windchill on Thanksgiving night, and that’s before the serious snowfall may begin.

      I will continue to pursue updates from the Camp as our departure date nears and will post any changes here.

  • Megan November 1, 2016 (4:23 pm)

    The indigenous network posted an “allies packet,” great info for anyone considering traveling to standing rock: 

    http://www.standingrocksolidaritynetwork.org/resource-packet.html

    • Cannonball Too November 2, 2016 (4:57 pm)

      Megan,

      These are wonderfully written documents : Thank you!

  • Jeanne Lamont November 2, 2016 (1:21 pm)

     

    Hi,

     

    I am from East Shore Unitarian Church and need to drop off
    donations at the West Seattle Church on Sunday.


    Can someone meet me at your Church late afternoon on Sunday,
    Nov. 6th
    ?

     

    Jeanne Lamont

    carpettheden@gmail.com 


    • Cannonball Too November 2, 2016 (4:55 pm)

      Thank you for your commitment to driving so far to make a donation.  I just sent you an email with an accommodating proposal.  Respond to that and we’ll go from there.

      Talk to you soon!

  • karunapet November 2, 2016 (8:56 pm)

    Dropped off a couple of bags at the Duwamish Center today. Included are 3 coats, 4 hooded sweatshirts, 3 stocking hats & a knit scarf.

    Safe travels & thank you so much for putting together this collection drive & seeing it through!

  • Sarah November 3, 2016 (11:27 am)

    Hoping to connect with someone who is able to transport our last 20 pair of premium Bogs winter snow boots that are like this: http://www.kidfriendlyfootwear.com/Bogs-McKinley-Snow-Boot–Black–Youth-1-6–P-204097.html to protect the cold toes of some of the water protectors!

    We have them at our shop and had recently put them on sale as they are a little too much boot for most people around here in our mild climate- but for North Dakota are just what the doctor ordered! 

    Wonder if there is anybody who can possibly assist this effort by picking them up and getting them to a donation site or person making the trip ? Since our shop is open every day, it is very difficult to get out during business hours. If you can do a pick-up please contact us by email or phone through our website., http://www.kidfriendlyfootwear.com&nbsp;

    Thank you!

    • Sarah November 4, 2016 (10:06 am)

      Oh no! A gentleman contacted our shop about being able to pick up the 20 pair of new heavy duty winter boots we would like to donate, but did not leave a name or number. please contact us again and leave contact info if I am not readily available.  Only possible clue was caller may have been Monroe HS. Please try again to kidfriendlyfootwear@gmail.com  we appreciate the effort! Thank  you!

  • Sarah November 3, 2016 (11:34 am)

    Editor:

    re boot donation for water protectors in North Dakota:

    just noticed that somehow an error occurred at the end of website used for contact in post from a minute or two ago: it should be http://www.kidfriendlyfootwear.com&nbsp;

    somehow some random letters have appeared at the end (&nbsp) that ruin the link. hope this can be fixed?

    also, i suppose I should not have said they are our last pairs of winter boots – but they are the last pairs of premium “McKinley” winter boots.

    sorry for the error and omission. Thank you for helping to fix.

    • Cannonball Too November 4, 2016 (5:50 pm)

      No worries, Sarah! 

      I just sent a note to your gmail address.  All is well and hopefully we’ll see you this weekend. 

  • bunny November 3, 2016 (2:35 pm)

    This is the list that is on the Sacred Stone camp supply list. 

    http://sacredstonecamp.org/supply-list/

  • Tizita Assefa November 3, 2016 (5:25 pm)

    Hello,

    I’m the Social Justice Coordinator at East Shore Unitarian. We are taking up a collection that our member Jeanne Lamont will be bringing to you but I did have another inquiry: our interim Minister Elaine Peresluha would like to make the journey with you if at all possible. I would love to talk details with you. 

    Thank you,

    Tizita Assefa

    • Cannonball Too November 9, 2016 (6:58 pm)

      Hello Tizita,

      Today I added the mountain of donations from your congregation to our official inventory — wow!  

      I hope you’ve taken note of our caravan meeting this Saturday (11/12) and that Elaine or some other representative can attend to discuss the possibility of traveling to Standing Rock with us.

      Thank you, again, and thanks to your congregation!

  • Cannonball Too November 5, 2016 (7:25 am)

    Good Morning West Seattle!

    We are headed to the donation site, with a rather large green umbrella, to receive.  It has been wonderful seeing all the support this week.  Look for an update this evening or tomorrow.  

    The Westside Unitarian Universalist Church has asked us to direct you to the Othello side of the church so as not to interrupt another event.

    See you soon!

    Cannonball 1

  • Brigitte Ardea November 5, 2016 (8:04 am)

     I have been looking for a way to participate in person. Can regular folks join you, of do I have to be a minister/associated with one of the churches in Seattle?

    • Cannonball Too November 6, 2016 (8:38 am)

      Hi Brigitte,

      We’re all regular folks.  We are simply fortunate enough to have the support of the local Unitarian community as well.  Please get involved and thank you for having the courage to ask!

  • Mark November 5, 2016 (9:41 pm)

    The Tribe signed a treaty that has not been adhered too, they have been screwed over many times over the years  Time to put the ‘pipeline’ back to original path not the current one.  

  • Cannonball Too November 7, 2016 (9:02 am)

    Happy Monday and a special note to all of you who have expressed an interest in joining a Thanksgiving caravan to Sacred Stone Camp.  You may have seen the update we added over the weekend about the terrific volume of donations we’ve already received as well as announcing a meeting to discuss caravan options.  

    Next Saturday, Nov. 12th, we’ll gather at Uptown Espresso on the corner of California and Edmunds from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. to talk through logistics and gauge interest and resources.

    We also want to add our deep gratitude to the amazing people managing the WSB.  Their generous contribution to this cause has been to keep our story and updates as close to the headlines as possible.  It’s a strategy that has definitely worked so far.  Thank you!

  • Kate November 7, 2016 (11:28 am)

    Hello, We are collecting donations at McDonald International school for the Winter Camp. By when do you need the donations by?

    Thank you,

    Kate

    • Kate November 7, 2016 (11:31 am)

      I just read and saw that it is until the 19th. We will get the materials in by these dates. Is there a need for winter clothing for kids? We can easily supply these kinds of items.

      • Cannonball Too November 7, 2016 (1:08 pm)

        Hello Kate,

         Saturday, Nov. 19th we will be at Westside Unitarian Universalist from 8 a.m. till noon, and also on that day, the Duwamish Tribal Services longhouse will be open to receive donations until 5:00 p.m.  Please visit either location by then to add to our already-tremendous collection.

         Absolutely we’re hoping to collect extra warm winter clothing in all sizes for all ages; children and elders are part of the group at the various camps at Standing Rock.

        Your contributions will be most welcome; thank you for asking! 

  • Damien November 9, 2016 (1:44 am)

    Aloha !

    Me and my friends are 2 items ready to be collected and sent to Standing Rock to give support to this protest !

    We are coming from Maui (Hawai) to Seattle, arriving the 12 november at early morning, we used all our cash to buy the flight ticket and worm clothes, so we would be gratefull if we could come with you (in the back of trhe truck with the items) to North Dakota.

    Could it be possible ?

    Mahalo

    • Cannonball Too November 9, 2016 (10:56 am)

      Hello Damien,

      Bravo to your energetic response to this cause! PLEASE come to the caravan meeting at Uptown Espresso on the 12th.  We will welcome your enthusiasm and discuss options like drivers and riders.

      To anyone planning to attend that meeting, or hoping to personally voyage to the camps, please read the excellent documents in the “allies packet” referred to in this thread on Nov. 1st by Megan.  They are a superb tool for assessing whether or not you should go in person and how best to implement your support either on the ground in North Dakota or from anywhere else.

      We’re looking forward to meeting you this Saturday! 

      Off I go to inventory a new mountain of donated winter gear — thanks, everyone!

  • JenL November 11, 2016 (11:29 am)

    Hi Everyone! 

    A film maker friend of mine has been at Standing Rock for the past week, and since he’s there on the ground, I thought I would ask him what he thought would be most helpful for the people there. Here is a what he had to say:

    1. People need shelter more than clothing. So construction materials are very welcome, as are army-style walled tents. He saw a group of people building a wigwam out of donated coats. :(

    2. School supplies and teachers! There are kids there, and keeping them purposefully occupied is a need.

    3. Sage and tobacco donations for offerings. They’re holding lots of ceremonies, and more of these things would be gratefully accepted.

    His final advice:

    it’s best if the group is completely self contained, own housing, food, toilets, etcs, probably if there is a self contained project the group can do, like purchase, deliver and build a yurt, or collect and haul trash in their own truck, that is really the best thing, and be very clear about what they are there to be doing.

    everything good comes down from the elders. the most significant camps are the main camp and the sacred stone camp. try to speak with an elder at one of those camps and let them know what you’re doing. “

    I hope this is helpful information! 


    • Cannonball Too November 11, 2016 (3:34 pm)

      Great information, thanks for sharing your connection and insights!

      • Harold Belskus November 14, 2016 (3:17 pm)

        I have a big Sprinter van that can fit tons of stuff, and two more people. Sorry I missed the meeting, as I was traveling. Please contact me asap, I would love coordinate and help!

        -Harold helskus@hotmail.com

  • Anna November 18, 2016 (1:05 pm)

    Do you need another car to load up with donations?  My friend and her daughters and my son are driving to Standing Rock this Wednesday to deliver donations and can bring more if you have any need for that.  Thanks, Anna 206-495-5079

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