PWNA Provides Emergency Winter Goods to Protect Elders: 

   By Partnership

Accessing essential items such as food, water, toiletries, blankets, childcare, and adult diapers is a formidable challenge on remote reservations, given the scarcity of retail stores in these areas. Moreover, disasters on these reservations often receive limited coverage in mainstream news, resulting in delayed external assistance. In some instances, tribes have endured prolonged periods, up to two weeks, without electricity or phone connectivity. The issue of food and water shortages persists throughout the year, affecting 23% of Native families who grapple with food insecurity. Overall, remoteness and accessibility make emergency situations particularly challenging for Native Americans in comparison to other ethnic groups in the United States. In response to these needs, Southwest Reservation Aid® (SWRA), a program of Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA), provides emergency goods to Elders through the Winter Emergency Box service.  

Program Partner Queenie with the Kayenta Senior Center in Kayenta, Arizona received 80 Winter Boxes to provide for the community. The boxes include supplies like hygiene products, canned foods, batteries, an emergency blanket, and other products to help recipients in an emergency as the cold winter sets in. Since the boxes are intended for emergency use, the supplies provided are intended to be used so residents don’t have to travel far in dangerous conditions. While Kayenta experiences average low temperatures below freezing from November to February, the Winter Boxes can be a lifeline for those cannot risk traveling in such conditions. 

Winter Boxes are a valuable resource for residents like 65-year-old Alice. Having worked part-time for the Kayenta Senior Center for three years, Alice is grateful for the help that the center provides for community members as well as staff. She gained permanent employment at the senior center after going through workforce development program where she worked several temporary jobs, building skills in customer and food service, landscaping, janitorial services, and housekeeping among many labor-intensive roles. Despite having part-time work, Alice feels pressure to keep up with bills. “I don’t like shopping here, everything is so high,” said Alice, adding that she prefers to shop either 100 miles away in Page, or 150 miles away in Flagstaff where prices are often lower. Additionally, high gas prices make Alice more wary about traveling, opting to do so only when necessary.  

Having recently purchased and fixed a truck so she can have reliable transportation, Alice feels more prepared for the upcoming season with her Winter Box supplies, hard work, and more careful planning. “We ran out of wood,” recalled Alice when asked about a particularly hard winter. Although the Kayenta Chapter House, which operates like a city council, occasionally provides wood, Alice expects to spend anywhere from $300-$400 for a truckload, making financial planning especially important. While she keeps herself busy to provide for her family, Alice anticipates the upcoming challenges of the season, repeating her personal affirmation “God, let me hang in there.”  

Alice understands the importance of SWRA’s Winter Boxes in her community, saying, “I’m just glad they can help with all these supplies,” anticipating rough times for those looking for supplies on their own. Additionally, Queenie hopes to continue maintaining the senior center as a vital resource for locals and visitors. She shared, “Some of these guys are financially going through a lot, especially when they’re living out in remote areas, and this is their only resource where they can take a shower or get supplies.”