Growing with PWNA 

“People who come in are hurting for food,” shared LaDonna H., our Program Partner at Atlas of Winnebago, a food pantry on Nebraska’s Winnebago Reservation. Thanks to Native American Aid (NAA), a program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA), LaDonna receives monthly food deliveries to help serve families in need. In fact, her pantry serves about 50 people every month, offering hearty items like rice, noodles, canned fruits, and vegetables. 

LaDonna became a Program Partner in 2011. In a town that doesn’t accept EBT, the pantry serves as an important community resource. That’s why it was devastating to families when the pantry closed for six weeks due to a lack of funding.  

LaDonna shared, “People rely on us a lot. They missed us and struggled when we were closed. We appreciate everything, and the people appreciate it even more. It goes right into their homes, to their families. Without the help of donors, we wouldn’t be able to have the quality of food that we do. I think we have a really good selection of food, but without NAA’s help, we couldn’t offer those items.” LaDonna added that canned food is getting harder to come by because people are stocking up for winter. 

52-year-old Elaine E. of the Winnebago Tribe has used the food pantry for two years. The service got her through some tough times, like homelessness, grieving loved ones, and medical issues.  

An estimated 42,000 to 85,000 Native Americans living in Tribal areas are homeless. Thankfully, Elaine recently moved into a house with two of her daughters and her grandchild. She’s had steady employment in the past and is hoping to be employed again soon. 

“It feels good to come to the pantry. The staff is helpful and welcoming; they don’t judge you,” Elaine told us. She appreciates being able to get meat from the pantry that is too expensive elsewhere. She’ll make meals like spaghetti and chicken alfredo with fry bread. She shared, “I’d struggle without the pantry. At the grocery store, a few items can cost $100, and I don’t have that money. Everything is more expensive with the economy now.” 

Elaine is reliant on her car for transportation and worries that she won’t be able to afford it if something breaks down. Thankfully, she has peace of mind about where her next meal is coming from.  

When you donate to NAA, you’re putting food on the table for Elaine and other Native families in need.