Areas with high poverty and minority populations are more likely to be food deserts. In addition, grocery stores on Native American reservations typically experience higher prices, making food less accessible to those in need. Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) aims to close the gap in food access among Tribal communities by providing supplies to Program Partners. The Navajo Relief Fund, a program of PWNA, offers the Emergency Food Box service, which provides easy-to-prepare and nonperishable foods to those struggling to access food.

On the Zuni Reservation in New Mexico, Program Partner Adonica C. serves Elders through her work at the Zuni Senior Center. Located near the base of Dowa Yalanne, a sacred mountain to the Zuni people, the senior center serves all Tribal Elders by providing them with meals and activities aimed at promoting healthy aging, as well as other services to support Elders in the community.

77-year-old Francine L. is a longtime caregiver and regularly visits the senior center. Having lived in Zuni since her early childhood, Francine said there wasn’t much for her to do with her two sisters and three brothers. With two of her brothers having passed, Francine finds the senior center valuable in providing a community of fellow Elders with nutritious meals and activities. Francine’s experience as a caregiver is what got her to the senior center in the first place. “I was taking care of my aunt. When she passed away, I started coming here,” said Francine. She also feels that connecting with other Elders and doing regular activities helps her stay busy since she had undergone a significant loss in her family.

Through NRF, Francine received an Emergency Food Box that contained nonperishable items like canned soup, rice, beans, self-heating meal kits, and other goods to provide sustenance when food isn’t easily accessible. “The prices are too high! Everything is going up,” she noted. Zuni is a small community with limited grocery options. Like many others, Francine sometimes travels to Gallup to shop, which is about 40 minutes away. “Sometimes we need to buy something, and it’s not there,” she added, highlighting the availability of some staple foods.

As someone who worries about scarcity, Francine is thankful for the donors who support NRF’s efforts to provide food for Native communities. She believes it is important for donors to continue supporting the Emergency Food Box service, “So we can have food.” Donate to NRF today to support Elders like Francine L.