Southwest Indian Relief Council®
Service Area: Southwest Reservations (includes AZ, NM, UT, and CA)
The Southwest Indian Relief Council® (SWIRC) exists to bring support, hope, encouragement, and relief to Native Americans living on rural and remote reservations in the Southwest United States. With our food and water, emergency, and holiday support services, we aim to combat the daily struggles community members are facing with isolation, limited employment opportunities, and a lack of resources. Working with Program Partners who identify the needs in their communities that our services can help them address, we intend to reduce immediate needs and support long-term solutions on the reservation through our services.
List of Services
Many Tribal communities are unsuitable for growing fruits and vegetables, or they are food deserts 10 miles or more from the nearest grocer, contributing to diabetes and other nutrition-related illnesses. SWIRC works with regional growers to deliver fresh produce to Tribal communities in the Southwest.
Turkeys and trimmings are provided to Program Partners hosting community-wide Thanksgiving meals on the reservation for hundreds of Elders, families, and children.
During the winter, many Elders living in remote Tribal lands lack access to resources like food and fuel for heating their homes. We offer the Winter Fuel service to support Native Elders by providing firewood. Through this service, Elders receive one cord of wood – chopped and delivered to the Elder, eliminating the need for them to plan for travel and delivery.
Our residential service helps Program Partners who provide support for their residents. This service supports homeless shelters, elderly care centers, domestic violence shelters, and treatment programs. We offer products that can assist a facility by saving them funds that they can use elsewhere, improving their services. The facilities may receive toiletries, cleaning supplies, and other necessities for operation. Additionally, residents may receive personal care products.
Retail shopping is limited on the reservations, so SWIRC and our Program Partners step in to make the holidays brighter. Thanks to our generous donors and an army of local volunteers, we distribute Holiday stockings to thousands of Native children each year. In their stocking, each child receives a toy plus practical gifts like mittens, pencils, crayons and coloring books, and a toothbrush and toothpaste.
Program Partners selected to have Santa Stops hold an event featuring Old Saint Nick and receive stockings and toys to distribute to children ages 0 to 4. Stockings are filled with helpful home and hygiene items for the little ones as well as small toys and activity books.
Quotes From Past Recipients
I'm just very grateful for [the donors] to take time out of their day to provide for families who can't afford things. It takes some of the stress off us knowing that there are other people who care and are willing to help. It's a warm feeling and lets us know we are not alone.
Candelaria - Gila River Indian Community
Thank you, your donations bring the community together.
Robert - Cocopah Indian Reservation
Receiving this Thanksgiving meal this year is a blessing. Nurturing your body with delicious food and being thankful for everything and everyone makes it easier. Thank you for everything you do for our family.
Johana - Navajo Nation
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