Redbird Blanket Drive and Mini Powwow returns

Redbird's 27th annual blanket drive and mini powwow will take place on December 3, from 11 AM to 3 PM, at the Simi Valley Library. Redbird has been a member of the La Canada community since its 2011 acquisition of La Canada Unified School District's Chilao Mountain School property, but the blanket drive remains in Simi, where the Native American and environmental non profit originated.

And as the climate warms and changes, we have wondered if blankets - a gift of love across the ages - are still appropriate. We've come to the conclusion they are. We are reaching out to a portion of our own country that is very different from our local world. Their struggles are complex, and poverty is at the heart of those struggles. And even a balmy fifty degrees is cold if you aren't prepared for it.

So for another year we will continue this tradition. Please join us for a miniature powwow, from 11 AM to 3 PM, at the Simi Valley Library. We will be outside on the grass if weather permits, and indoors in the Community Room if it doesn't. The purpose of this celebration is to gather new warm blankets and raise enough money to ship them to South Dakota. They will be shipped to Alex White Plume who will then distribute them, not as charity, but as gifts. It's an energetic distinction that we feel is important, because a gift is given with love. All powwow drums and powwow dancers are welcome. Your songs, dances and prayers are appreciated. Everyone is welcome. If you can contribute to the cause, that's wonderful. If you can't, come anyway and contribute your good energy. Lala's Native Gems and Circling Hawk Creations will be our contributing vendors. There will be refreshments. This is Redbird's longest running event; held every year since 1994 except for 2005 when we did not have a suitable location.

We also accept new and like-new winter clothing items such as ski wear, and new warm socks. We will inevitably receive previously owned blankets and clothing along with new items. Gently used items are carefully inspected and may be donated to Los Angeles based groups that work with homeless and high risk urban families and individuals. This is likely to happen in years when donations of goods out-strip the donation of funds to ship them. (There is also a small collection of used blankets from previous blanket drives at Chilao School. These are available to Montrose Search and Rescue in the event of winter emergencies, and to the occasional stranded forest visitors who have ridden out winter storms at the school).
If you absolutely cannot resist the urge to sneak in a small to medium sized new stuffed toy or two...we will sneak them into a box of blankets bound for South Dakota. Over the years we have found that shipping school supplies and other kinds of toys is not cost effective, therefore we have stopped asking for those items.