Holiday Initiative Brings Visibility and Assistance to Plight of Native Americans in Montana
Atlanta, GA (PRWEB) October 27, 2014 -- Dr. Caroline von Fluegge-Chen of Balance Atlanta Family Chiropractic, is pleased to announce the eighth annual Christmas on the Reservation (COTR) gift drive to benefit children on the Fort Peck Indian Reservation in northeast Montana. Beginning immediately, Balance Atlanta will be collecting new shoes, boots and socks for children. In exchange, new patients who donate will receive a chiropractic exam and adjustment, including posture and gait analysis, for $65.
The COTR holiday program is part of the Love Has No Color national mission to allow Native Americans to reclaim their human rights and dignity by bringing awareness to the conditions in which they live. As a result, doctors of chiropractic affiliated with The New Renaissance mentoring group begin a gift drive in October, to collect new, needed items for the kids on the reservation. Dr. von Fluegge-Chen has been working on the Reservation since the summer of 2005.
“The children on the Reservations are among the neediest in our Nation. Seventy-five percent of their parents are unemployed and drug and alcohol abuse continue to threaten the health of the community,” said Dr. von Fluegge-Chen. “Some of the children live in houses that do not have electricity or running water for most of the year and it is a constant struggle to take care of basic needs let alone provide for Christmas cheer,” she continued. “Their needs are far greater than physical items like clothing and toys. They need to know that someone cares about what happens to them. While it is heart breaking, it is also motivational. My colleagues and I continue to work to do something about it.”
To that end, Dr. Von Fluegge-Chen is encouraging new patients at Balance Atlanta Family Chiropractic to donate new shoes, boots and socks for children aged infants to teens. Collected gifts are shipped out to Montana December 1st for the COTR gift distribution ceremonies. Coordinators of the initiative travel around the reservation to schools and brighten the holidays for each and every child. In addition, chiropractors like Dr. Fluegge-Chen bring Chiropractic back to the Reservation every year to see about the health of those on the Reservation.
Dr. von Fluegge-Chen says she and her colleagues return every year because of their desire to share their brand of healing with those living on the Reservation, and because of the genuine bond they have made with them. “This is a partnership with the tribes, not a charity or handout. We help people help themselves. We provide them with hope, self-esteem building activities, and many other tools to maximize their full-potential in life. This falls right in line with the chiropractic philosophy or promoting mental and physical well-being.”
“We made an emotional connection with the people there, especially the children,” said Dr. von Fluegge-Chen. “My husband and 17-year old daughter are excited to return to Fort Peck this winter with fellow chiropractors and distribute to the children over 15,000 presents. Thanks to the generosity of our practice members, Balance Atlanta Family Chiropractic ships enormous boxes of gifts for the Fort Peck Reservation including special needs items for the elderly, as well as toys and clothes for the children,” she continued. “We have raised thousands of dollars for this community, making a dent in the statistics of poverty, unemployment, diabetes, drug and alcohol abuse, and the highest suicide rate among children. It is time once again to show the world what our community can do to help others in need.”
At the close of this Eighth Annual Christmas on the Reservation gift drive she will be hosting a presentation at her office on Saturday November 22nd at 10:00 a.m. Movies of past trips to Fort Peck Reservation will be shown and the packing party will begin. Come find out what a difference your gifts have made in previous years and see the change in the children on the Reservation since the first visit over eight years ago.
The COTR Gift Drive runs through November 30th. Items can be brought to Balance Atlanta Family Chiropractic in Buckhead, located at 360 Pharr Rd, Atlanta 30305. Interested parties can call 404 261 4848 with any questions or to schedule a chiropractic appointment or visit http://www.balanceatlanta.com. For more information about the Love Has No Color project and its mission of Healthier People = Healthier Planet go to: http://www.savethereservation.org.
Based in Atlanta, Balance Atlanta Family Chiropractic is a wellness clinic that helps patients to pursue a healthy, inspired and productive quality of life in an environment of excellence. The practice puts an emphasis on topnotch clinical skills, cutting edge technology, heartfelt compassion and a family-friendly office atmosphere.
Dr. Caroline von Fluegge-Chen, Balance Atlanta Family Chiropractic, http://www.balanceatlanta.com, +1 404 261 4848, [email protected]
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