“Our needs in our small town are equivalent to any other place. People want a good hot or cold meal that is prepared homemade and with special touches that we at the Walthill Senior Center pride ourselves on,” shared our Program Partner, Chris M., who uses the Standard Food service of Northern Plains Reservation Aid® (NPRA), a program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA). Through this service, our Program Partners receive regular deliveries of pantry staples and nonperishable food to supplement their meals for Elders.

The Walthill Senior Center is on the Omaha Reservation in Nebraska, where staff serves up to 1,000 lunches monthly. Chris noted, “The food costs have been quite extreme. We have had to really tighten our belts and look closer at what we can serve, and we are unable to do the ‘fun’ things like cookies and desserts that everyone enjoys.”

There is only one local store, but locals say it lacks variety. Chris told us, “We are not close to a major store for food and things we need, and volunteers that can drive are not plentiful. We have to do a lot of planning ahead to get things that we need.”

Thankfully, NPRA’s Standard Food service helps Chris provide consistent healthy meals for Elders like 61-year-old Timothy, who picks up lunch for himself and his wife, Monica. He’s the sole provider of an eight-person household, which includes four grandchildren with disabilities and his oldest son and youngest daughter, who recently returned home. Timothy told us that feeding everyone costs $100 at the grocery store for one meal. “We’re always at the store because the kids eat all the time,” he shared. Timothy wishes his town had a grocery store that offered more variety and lower prices.

Timothy has worked at a local school for six years, performing maintenance and custodial services. He saves money by bringing home school lunches for his grandkids. Thanks to NPRA, he’s able to visit the senior center and bring home lunch for his wife, who lives with multiple serious medical issues. Timothy appreciates getting a “good, hot meal” at the Walthill Senior Center. “I like Brussels sprouts and beets, but I can’t eat them at home because no one likes them,” he laughed.

1 in 6 Native American families lives below the poverty level. Despite the rising cost of food and the challenges of supporting a large family on a limited income, Timothy remains in good spirits. You can help Native Elders like Timothy care for themselves and their families by donating to NPRA today