Winter Heating Program: 2023-24
During the cold, windy prairie winters — when temperatures can drop below zero for days at a time — many families on the Pine Ridge Reservation struggle to keep their homes heated.
Donations to support our Winter Heating Assistance Program provide families and elders with firewood through the winter, along with emergency propane and electric utility assistance.
During a typical winter, we cut, split, and deliver more than 500 truckloads of firewood to homes across the reservation and provide emergency electric assistance and propane assistance, paid directly to utility companies.
A summary of program services can be found below.
FIREWOOD
SEASON: October/November – End of heating season
All requests must be called into the Re-Member office at (605) 867-2282. If you do not speak with a staff member, please leave a name and call-back number. We will return your call.
Firewood deliveries are typically made Monday through Thursday, and consist of ½ of a pickup truck load. Please do not rely on Re-Member as your only source of firewood. With hundreds of requests, we are generally not able to deliver more than once a month.
ELECTRIC ASSISTANCE
SEASON: December – March
BENEFIT: $200 per account, maximum
Please have your utility company fax a copy of your statement to Re-Member at (605) 867-2285. Follow up by calling the Re-Member office. You will need to confirm the name on the billing account, and provide the last four of your SSN if you are serviced by Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD). If you do not speak with a staff member, please leave a name and call-back number.
Accounts must be located within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Reservation, and be served by NPPD or Lacreek Electric Association. Re-Member will make a one-time payment of up to $200 per account. Payment will be made directly to the utility company. Priority will be given to accounts in “past-due” status.
PROPANE ASSISTANCE
SEASON: December – March
BENEFIT: 100 gallons per account, maximum
All requests must be called into the Re-Member office at (605) 867-2282. If you do not speak with a staff member, please leave a name and call-back number. Accounts must be located within the boundaries of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, and by served by Lakota Plains Propane.
Re-Member will make a one-time order of up to 100 gallons per account. Payment will be made directly to Lakota Plains Propane.
HOME HEATING OIL ASSISTANCE
SEASON: December – March
BENEFIT: 100 gallons per account, maximum
All requests must be called into the Re-Member office at (605) 867-2282. If you do not speak with a staff member, please leave a name and call-back number. Re-Member will make a one-time order of up to 150 gallons per account. Payment will be made directly to Pine Ridge Oil.
**EACH HOUSEHOLD IS ELIGIBLE FOR ONE TYPE OF ASSISTANCE**