Native Solidarity Project is excited to announce the “Learn By Playing Toy Drive,” a new partnership with the Intertribal Council of Nevada (ITCN) to enrich their Head Start Program with educational toys and books donated by members of the Burning Man community.
Head Start is a program that provides early childhood education and care to preschool age children. ITCN manages eleven Head Start classrooms for Native American children, helping them develop the skills they need to succeed in school and in life.
Burning Man is an annual event held in the Black Rock Desert in Northern Nevada. It is a week-long celebration of art, music, and community. Native Solidarity Project is encouraging Burning Man participants who travel through the Pyramid Lake Paiute Reservation to donate Educational Toys & Books for children up to age 12 on their way into the event. ITCN will distribute donations according to age and need to the appropriate tribal school.
If you are planning to attend Burning Man, please consider donating an educational toy at one of the following Toy Drive Drop Off Locations on your way into the event.
Convenient Dropoff Sites in Wadsworth & Nixon just off NV-447
- Wadsworth Head Start 380 Pyramid Street, Wadsworth, NV 89442
- Nixon Head Start 195 W Pyramid Lake Road, Nixon, NV 89424
- PLPT Food Distribution Warehouse 11 Brady St, Wadsworth, NV 89442
- Nixon Tribal Store + I-80 Smokeshop (in Wadsworth)
Online orders of Educational Toys + Books can also be mailed to this address:
Margaret Gunshows
Head Start Program
Intertribal Council Of Nevada
PO Box 7440
Reno, NV 89510
Native Solidarity Project has set a goal of raising $400 for each of the eleven ITCN Head Start classrooms in Nevada to enhance the learning environment & purchase educational supplies. So far we have raised enough money for two classrooms!
If you would like to donate to the Learn By Playing campaign, please do so here:
We are looking for volunteers to help raise awareness about this easy way to enrich the lives of Native American children, and are recruiting volunteer drivers to help transport donated items from California to Nevada. To lend a hand, or arrange logistics for any toy or book donations, call 415-760-2352 or email native.solidarity.project@gmail.com
If you have questions about what type of items we are looking for, please contact Margaret Gunshows from ITCN Head Start at +1 (775) 530-5518 or mgunshows@itcn.org. With your help, together we can help deliver the best educational experience possible to rural Native American Children. Thank you!
Above: NSP volunteer Xochitl Ramirez (l) delivers children’s books to Margaret Gunshows (r) of ITCN Head Start.
