Bumps in the Road Couldn’t Detour a Donor’s Giving Heart

Judy and other helpers and donors gathered beside the truck before it made its way to South Dakota.

Judy Horton frantically held the telephone in her hands. She’d just learned the items she and many others collected in Newfield, N.Y., and surrounding towns, were not going to be delivered to St. Joseph’s Indian School by the original driver as planned. Instead, she found herself with a mountain of wonderful donations, with no way to get them to Lakota (Sioux) students in Chamberlain, S.D.

“What am I going to do now?” she thought to herself.

Judy and her husband called numerous trucking companies, but kept running into dead ends. Shipping by mail would be an astronomical expense. She couldn’t drive the 1,400-mile distance herself … She called her family members to ask for prayers, because she hadn’t the slightest idea how she was going to get the items to South Dakota.

Then she paused. She rested her worried mind and a name came to her … John. Might an old friend who she knew was a trucker have the answer to her dilemma?

“I called him up and he said he didn’t drive out of state but pointed me in a direction I hadn’t taken yet,” said Judy.

John told her to call Native American owned trucking companies — the nearest one she could find to Newfield. After an online search, she discovered that one was located in Georgia. Not exactly close, but she gave it a shot. The company told her they only drove cross country and couldn’t go north to New York to collect the load.

“In that moment, I felt so defeated,” said Judy.

But the company wasn’t without more direction. They told her they would call their affiliate company in none other than Sioux Falls, S.D. Sioux Falls is located approximately 150 miles from St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Judy wondered, “Could this be my saving grace?”

The company in Georgia called Sioux Falls and then returned a call to Judy. It just so happened that a truck driver named Jared (a Cherokee man) was currently in a small town in Pennsylvania with an empty truck. He’d be heading back to South Dakota that night and was willing to make the 100-mile detour to Newfield to pick-up the donations for her!

“I was so thrilled,” said Judy, “But, our new driver, Jared, needed to leave that evening, so I called everyone I could think of to come and help load his truck.”

Approximately 10 St. Joseph’s staff members help unload the large load of donations from New York.

And despite every bump and twist in the road, the group got it done. Jared arrived, his truck was loaded and he headed back to South Dakota with the donated goods.

The boxes were filled with items such as shampoo, conditioner, brushes, school and art supplies, small toys and more. Judy’s first hope was to fill 200 boxes with such items, but an outpouring from her church committee, friends, family and strangers led her to collecting 226 boxes — meaning every single student at St. Joseph’s will be blessed this Christmas with a box of their very own.

The box tower kept growing and growing!

Supporters also gave items such as blankets, stuffed animals, jump ropes, sheets and towels. Judy’s sewing group even made 32 handmade quilts to share with the Lakota boys and girls at St. Joseph’s.

Once Jared and the truck arrived on campus, approximately 10 St. Joseph’s staff members greeted him to help unload. Many hands made quick work of the very large load.

Donation and Disbursement employees Nancy, Heather, Savannah and Robin stand beside Jared, the driver who transported donations to St. Joseph’s nearly 1,400 miles.

“It’s so great to witness the passion of our donors,” said Heather, Disbursement and Donation Supervisor at St. Joseph’s. “Judy kept us posted the entire time she was working through her delivery difficulties, and it was so inspiring to see that truck make it to our school. She found a way, and she made a difference.”

Philámayayethank you — to Judy and many other supporters like her who don’t give up. Sometimes, doing a good deed comes with bumps in the road. We are so thankful for the people who choose endure twists and turns for students at St. Joseph’s Indian School.

Author: St. Joseph's Indian School

At St. Joseph's Indian School, our privately-funded programs for Lakota (Sioux) children in need have evolved over 90 years of family partnership, experience and education. Because of generous friends who share tax-deductible donations, Native American youth receive a safe, stable home life; individual counseling and guidance; carefully planned curriculum based on Lakota culture and individual student needs and tools to help build confidence, boost self-esteem and improve cultural awareness. All of this helps children to live a bright, productive, possibility-filled future.

11 thoughts on “Bumps in the Road Couldn’t Detour a Donor’s Giving Heart”

  1. Judy Horton and her wonderful donors from Newfield, NY had trouble finding a way to get the donation boxes to St. Joe’s. Finally they found a truck driver who was in Pennsylvania and he came to Newfield NY and they loaded the truck there. Newfield is about 25 miles from my town of Horseheads, NY. I am so glad that Jared got all of the boxes there!
    Ten people from St. Joseph’s unloaded all of the boxes full of donations for St. Joseph’s for the students for the holidays. The folks in Newfield, New York, did a wonderful job with donations to St. Joseph’s!! Phila’mayaye, (thanks so much)

    1. Thank you! It truly was such a wonderful thing for Judy and the rest of the donors to do. We are so appreciative they chose our school out of all others!

  2. This is such wonderful news , abd i wish i could see the looks on the little kids faces when they open their box for Christmas.God bless the truck driver and the people that made this dream come through for alot of kids.And thank you there at the office everyday for what you do , God bless all.

  3. Angels come in all shapes and sizes and surely Judy’s wings are starting to show. What a great story. The resilience of the soul. As a nation we are just starting to wake up to the real plight of our Indigenous Peoples and what they have to offer us as a people connected and in touch with the our mother earth and father sky and all things sacred in living creatures great and small. The cycles of nature and the love for all. What an advanced civilization they are all connected to in heart. They will rise up again and teach us all to be one for the greater good.

  4. What lovely thoughts. The human spirit endures much for the sake of others, especially the children. God Bless all those who sewed, donated and loaded every box. What a Christmas the children must have had and within their hearts, these wonderful people planted the seed that others care. May it be n ourished through their growing years and grow instill ing a spirit in them to help others some day.

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