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Success Stories

Breakfast-in-a-Bag

“Let’s go… they’re hungry out there!”

The Buches baggers see him coming and quickly ask…”How many do you need Jesse?” Jesse replies, “Let’s go…they’re hungry out there!” as he places his first order of the day before starting off his morning deliveries. Jesse is a Breakfast-in-a-Bag (BinB) sponsor for over 25 Elders throughout the Rosebud Reservation and his delivery list is increasing each month. Jesse works for the Rosebud Sioux Tribe as the Elderly Affairs Coordinator and takes his responsibilities seriously. Working for the Elders in his community comes with hardships, but fortunately he also has a great sense of humor.

We met Jesse at the Buches Store in Mission recently and did a ride-along with him for one day of deliveries. For three days each month, Jesse travels to Mission and collects the Breakfast-in-a-Bag items from Buches and delivers them to the Elders he sponsors. These homebound Elders rely on Jesse for more than just breakfast items — they consider him a friend and an advocate on their behalf.

"Whatever you do," Jesse said, "just be helpful."

Jesse speaks passionately about his role in the community and fondly remembers being raised by his grandparents. His grandfather comes up frequently in our conversation, and the simplest advice he gave his grandson has been the most profound: “BE HELPFUL. Whatever you do, just be helpful.”

During his monthly deliveries, Jesse has come across some hardships. An elderly woman was days from being evicted. Jesse went to the housing authority and explained that the woman’s daughter had recently passed away and her rent money went towards funeral expenses. Jesse is still delivering BinB items to this woman in her house. He gave her the voice that she did not have during a very difficult time and kept her from eviction.

Jesse helped another Elder secure water for their home when delays were compounded by more delays. He received a call directly from water resources personnel and they said, “We are taking care of it Jesse”… and they did. During another BinB delivery, Jesse noticed the disrepair of an elderly man's screen door. Jesse not only delivered the door, but installed it himself. Other days you may find him delivering BinB food with a refurbished appliance for an Elder in need. One of his dreams is to have a warehouse full of appliances that can be refurbished and provided to Elders.

Jesse doesn’t take all the credit for getting things done. He said, “I have a lot of KOLAS (meaning 'friends' or 'Lakota friends')". They help out when he needs something extra to help a fellow Elder. His friendships are well established since he has over 40 years working with the tribal government on the Rosebud Reservation and people shake his hand everywhere he goes. He refers to the “younger ones” as the up and coming Elders... those in their late 50’s and early 60’s approaching that special time in their lives. Jesse wants the “younger ones” to get involved and stay involved on Rosebud so that the work he does will be infectious and spread to others. If Jesse’s grandfather was still alive, he would be very proud of Jesse and his “helpfulness!”