Emergency Support for Disabled Nebraska Elder  

The Northern Plains often face the threat of natural disasters like blizzards and tornados. Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) serves thousands of Tribal citizens a year through our Native American Aid (NAA) program, offering Emergency Food Boxes to help residents be prepared should a disaster prevent them from getting to a store. Recently, our Program Partner Janet B. at the Winnebago Senior Center in Nebraska distributed NAA Emergency Food Boxes to help vulnerable Elders in her tribal community. 

One beneficiary was Winnebago Elder Edith S., age 84, who has spent her life caring for others as a nurse and foster mom.  She shared, “I took unattended babies into my home and watched them grow up.” She also had seven children of her own. To support her family, she sold tamales and burritos, and she taught her children how to cook when they were young. 

Opening the Emergency Food Box, Edith found helpful items like toilet paper, boxed milk, and bottles of water. She was especially excited about the chicken soup.  

Janet knows that Edith and all the Elders are grateful to receive the Emergency Food Boxes. She told us, “Some Elders can’t get these supplies with the price of everything going up. This will really help them, especially since they’re all reliant on Social Security or Medicaid. They’re so thankful.” 

On weekdays, Edith comes to the Winnebago Senior Center, where she can eat a healthy, hot meal and spend time with friends. She helped build the senior center in 1954 when the town was forming. Edith noted, “The whole family helped. I pulled weeds and things like that.” 

Edith lives with her son who takes care of her but is often busy repairing Tribal police cars. She let us know, “We don’t have much, but my son always needs to buy auto parts, so we try to make sure that he’s got money on hand.” 

Edith has suffered from numerous medical issues over the years, eventually resulting in the loss of her mobility. She told us, “I’ve been active all my life, so it’s hard sitting in a wheelchair.” Native adults have higher health disparities than their non-Hispanic White counterparts. 

Your donation to NAA can help Native Elders like Edith who struggle with health and expenses.