Twice a year, in early May and late September or early October, a group of St. Luke women pack up eight sewing machines, batting, and lots of fabrics and drive to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.  Our good friend, Pinky Clifford, makes the arrangements for us to work in the St. Agnes Catholic Church Social Hall in Manderson.  We look forward to greeting our Pine Ridge friends who make sofa pillows, baby quilts, large quilts, wall hangings, drapes, purses, and other projects. 

We stay at the Pine Ridge Retreat Center, an ecumenical ministry of the Lutheran and Presbyterian Churches in the village of Pine Ridge.  We have breakfast at a very nice coffee shop, eat lunch with the seniors, and have dinner brought in at the retreat center.  Often in the evening, we have speakers from the tribe who share their experiences on the reservation.

It is a delight for St. Luke women to be together and to renew friendships with our Pine Ridge friends.  We always take new “sewers” to see the Wounded Knee Cemetery and other important sites such as the Red Cloud School.   All women are welcomed to join in.   You do not have know how to sew to go on the trip.  We always need people who can thread sewing machines, help select fabrics, cut batting, play with the children, and enjoy being together.

Next Trip: October 4-8, 2010

Contact Person: Liz Heuser