There are so many layers of healing Love Has No Color brings to the kids on the Fort Peck Reservation. While our programs assist all children and families on the Reservation, the focus is on kids that are at risk.
We were asked to refurbish the Poplar Movie Theater as our first act on the Reservation. The theater was severely deteriorated and was a broken down shadow of its former self. It used to be a landmark of Poplar between the 60’s-70’s.
It took 7 years of effort of LHNC and other groups helping us to accomplish the goal!
We wanted the kids to be able to enjoy watching movies but it’s also much more than that. With the help from Kenny Smoker, the HPDP, and Dr. Megan Cartillar it also includes indoor archery and a place the kids can get food. It has become a community meeting place for them to hangout after school. Most importantly, it’s safe haven from gangs.
When we hand out gifts with our Christmas on the Reservation program, we also make special visits to the 3 Head Start Programs on the Reservation. We bring extra presents, put on puppet shows, play with the kids, and do everything in our power to help these kids share their gifts with the world.
The window for development window for these kids can be narrow. Care and kindness while they are young can help break many of them out of developmental delay, fetal alcohol, born to addict parents, and more.
We have already seen improvement over the years with a lot of the kids. The teachers at the Head Start Program are some of the most kind and caring people you ever want to meet.
In the last 3 years we have been made aware that many kids don’t get 3 meals a day. We have stepped up our efforts and every time we visit the Reservation we bring food. We have also started to bring more household goods, underwear, tee-shirts, and socks for families.
We even have gone as far as going door to door in communities like Frazier and Brocton.
So far we have helped over 1,500 families with our LHNC/HPDP grocery bags.
Each year we get as close as we can to every kid receiving a new and stylish back pack to go back to school with.
This August will mark our 15th year helping kids on the Fort Peck Reservation.
We’re just getting warmed up with helping these kids!! Thanks to all the donors, the participants, and the residents of the Reservation for assisting us and making us all feel so welcome.
It’s like a homecoming for us!