Many Native American children experienced what it’s like to own a new pair of shoes!

In February, both TOMS and National Relief Charities were excited to announce a partnership for TOMS shoe distributions in the US, and specifically on poverty-stricken reservations where we serve. For every pair of shoes that TOMS sells, they distribute a free pair of shoes to a child in need. With nearly half of Native American children living in poverty, having shoes that fit and function are a common challenge for families. Our knowledge and experience distributing material goods in remote communities made this a perfect fit for both organizations.

Through the combined effort between TOMS and NRC, shoes were given to children in many of the school districts where the resources for new shoes are not commonplace. We were touched by the excitement many of the children had in receiving new shoes for the first time. The shoe distributions also provided the children one-on-one attention from an adult who was willing to spend the time ensuring that the pair of shoes the children picked out fit properly. The kids were excited about being able to not only own a popular brand of shoes, but also to be able to have a choice in the color.

The shoe distributions gave these Native American children more than just shoes. It empowered them with choices and allowed them to experience what it’s like to own a new pair of shoes.

To learn more about TOMS, you can visit their blog and Facebook page.

National Relief Charities (NRC) is a nonprofit dedicated to quality of life for Native Americans living on remote and poverty-stricken reservations in the Plains and Southwest. Our mission is "To help Native American people improve the quality of their lives by providing opportunities for them to bring about positive changes in their communities."

Strong in tradition and values, but lacking in resources.

NRC has been serving Native Americans for 20 years. We are the only charity to work on over 75 reservations year-round. We have a network of nearly 900 partnerships with reservation programs. These are our Program Partners. NRC works through the Partners to bring much-needed relief to over 300,000 Native Americans who live in their reservation communities. The most important thing NRC brings to these communities is hope.

NRC is unique in several ways. We have a highly effective warehouse and distribution system that lets us truck over 4 million pounds of material aid each year — to remote reservation communities that most Americans never see and most organizations cannot reach. The goods we ship make their way directly into the hands of the Native American people who need them. NRC’s approach brings several other important benefits to those who work with us. The fact that our Partners are Native Americans who live and work on the reservations gives us added reach into reservation communities. It also gives us insights on how to work effectively on the reservations. This is how we evolved "The NRC Way" and our guiding principles of stewardship, volunteerism, and respect. NRC strives to be a consistent resource in Indian country and to provide the right goods at the right time and in the right way.

More a Partnership Than a Charity
All of NRC's work centers around bringing material aid, educational support, and onsite services that afford immediate relief to economically-depressed reservations. Our service area is concentrated in nine priority states, which encompass Pine Ridge, Rosebud, Navajo, and over 75 reservations with a high need for basic necessities. To make a difference in such a wide service area, NRC relies on the generosity of concerned Americans, and also on businesses that are able to donate goods in bulk.

Typically, material donations take the form of: food, water, produce; personal hygiene items such as shampoo, toothpaste and soap; household cleaning products, toilet paper, and laundry detergent; linens and blankets; coats and winter clothing; and school supplies. NRC covers any cost of shipping the goods from wherever they are to our warehouse in South Dakota or Arizona. Monetary donations also help us purchase similar goods at volume discounts. Both kinds of donations increase the quality and quantity of goods that NRC provides and ultimately to have a greater impact on quality of life for Native Americans. NRC delivers the donated and purchased goods to Partners, who distribute the goods in their communities. Everyone has a role to fill. That’s why we say NRC is more a partnership than a charity. We do not receive any government funding; we count on your support.