Areas with high poverty and minority populations are more likely to be food deserts. With only 26% of people in tribal communities living within one mile of a supermarket, Indigenous people often go to great lengths to access food. Residents living in the vast Tohono O’odham Nation have limited options for accessing healthy food, especially common staples for maintaining one’s cultural heritage. In response to the need for Indigenous-centered fresh foods, Partnership With Native Americans (PWNA) works with Program Partners to offset these inequities. With grocery stores being scarce in a nation comparable in size to the state of Connecticut, PWNA’s Southwest Indian Relief Council (SWIRC) program helps Program Partners offer fresh, culturally relevant foods.

Through SWIRC, Program Partners like Mike with the Pisinemo Senior Center in Arizona can step up to provide more healthy food for underserved Elders. Through SWIRC, Mike distributed boxes that included both staple foods as well as new foods for Elders to try. Boxes included fresh produce like squash, carrots, potatoes, onions, beans, and some less familiar products like mutton and blue corn meal.

Pisinemo’s nearest grocery store is a 15-mile drive away, a daunting distance for Elders who lack reliable transportation. Some residents may travel even farther, up to 85 miles to Casa Grande, to reach a supermarket. Mike said, “It’s difficult, a lot of people are on a limited income or they’re on food stamps, and then some people have generations and generations living in the same household.” However, both the Pisinemo District and the Senior Center step in, coordinating transportation for those in need. This initiative ensures Elders have increased access to supplies.

With 34% of seniors in Pisinemo living below the poverty line, community leaders are always willing to partner with organizations like PWNA to ensure they can meet the needs of their Elders. “They were very happy that they were receiving something, especially the flour, the potatoes, and vegetables,” shared Mike. He later added, “[Being a Program Partner] is a blessing” as it is one extra way to serve the community.”

For 72-year-old Barbara, Indigenous food boxes offered an alternative to processed foods. Now retired, she keeps herself busy with TV and making wreaths for fun, cherishing the traditions she holds dear. Barbara is especially looking forward to All Soul’s Day, a November holiday in which members across the Tohono O’odham Nation prepare the favorite meals of their deceased ancestors and share food with other practicing families. “We had a lot [of families] but now everybody’s dying off and the young people aren’t doing it anymore,” Barbara told us.

Barbara reflected on her attachment to Pisinemo, saying, “I’ve been on and off the reservation, but I always come back. This is my home.” Concerned about younger generations’ lack of enthusiasm about cultural traditions, Barbara remains steadfast in her commitment to preserving her heritage through her hobbies.

Donate to SWIRC today to ensure Program Partners like Mike at the Pisinemo Senior Center can reduce food insecurity by providing Elders with access to healthy, culturally relevant foods.