For most of her life, Lita has been a caregiver. 

She raised her own children, helped raise her grandchildren, and even relocated to Mesa, Arizona, for a time to support her family. When her grandchildren were old enough, she returned home to Kaibeto on the Navajo Nation — determined to build a space of her own after years of caring for others. 

That wasn’t simple. Her application for a homesite lease was lost multiple times before it was finally approved. Only then could she move back and settle into the community where she had lived most of her life. 

Living independently in a remote area brings challenges. Services are far away. Emergency response times can stretch for hours. Power outages can mean long waits for restoration. Even grocery shopping requires planning, transportation, and money for fuel — barriers that affect many residents in this rural region, where more than 1 in 5 people live below the poverty line. 

For Lita, the senior center became both a practical support and a social lifeline. 

She began visiting the Kaibeto Senior Center several times a week after registering for lunch with a neighbor. What she found there was more than a meal. She found community — conversations, shared laughter, and opportunities to travel on group outings to other Navajo communities like Shiprock and To’Hajillee. 

Living alone can be quiet, she says. But the senior center brings people together. “It helps when you socialize and have lunch here. That really lifts my spirits,” Lita says. 

Behind each meal is a network of support. Through Southwest Reservation Aid® (SWRA), a program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA), and its Standard Food service, bulk pantry items help the center maintain consistent, nutritious lunches. Program Partner Belinda J. and the staff transform those ingredients into meals that reflect care and skill — meals that bring people through the door day after day. 

For Elders like Lita, that reliability matters. When food costs rise, or travel becomes difficult, the senior center ensures that a warm meal — and a welcoming place to gather — is always within reach. 

“It’s good that we have the senior center,” Lita says. “They bring in different ways to cook lunch. And when you love to cook, it shows in your meals.” 

Her gratitude extends to the supporters who make those meals possible. “Thank you very much for your help,” says Lita. “The way the prices are, the way the economy is going, everybody is struggling. We need all the help we can get.” 

That help creates lasting impact. Donor support strengthens community-led programs that provide dependable access to food, reduce isolation, and support healthy aging. By investing in partnerships like the one in Kaibeto, you help ensure Elders can gather, share meals, and remain connected to the communities they helped build.