On a struggling Navajo Nation, food insecurity is a dire issue that affects many living there. It is a consistent worry for those affected and one that burdens many Navajo Veterans. Dine’ Naazbaa Partnership is continuing the effort to address food insecurity for veterans and their families on the Nation through a fifth, quarterly food distribution event at Tuba City, AZ.
These events started nearly two years ago with a small group of organizations and companies, which was spearheaded by the Reveille Foundation, Phoenix Truck Driving School/DSW and DNP. With each event the collaboration has grown, more than twenty organizations came together at the Tuba City event to help alleviate the unmet needs of veterans, their families, and caregivers.
The goal of the drives is to ensure improved quality of life by supplementing food and necessities, such as wood for cooking and heat, and water. This effort also offered community and veteran resources to provide additional support to warriors in the region.
Just seeing our veterans on this day was something special. It was an honor to serve them. - Karen Shirley, Community Coordination Associate, DNP
Non-perishable food boxes, water, snacks, wood, and school supplies were some of the items distributed to veterans, spouses, and caregivers. In addition, there were 15 tables set up to provide attendees of the event with health, safety, and military information resources. The drive aided 307individuals and provided 200 veterans with supplementary resources.
The DNP team, Bernie Tyler and Karen Shirley, thank all the resources and partners who came together alongside us to make this happen: Northern Arizona VA, Gallup Disabled Veterans Program, the Vet Center Mobile Unit, SNAP, Northern Veterans Stand Down, VUE/Progress Forward Solar, AZ Dept. Of Economic Security, Reveille Foundation, Tuba City Chapter Government, Navajo Nation Veterans Administration, Nation’s Finest, Collective Medicine, FOCUS Marines Foundation,Crescent Crown, Feed the Children, Veterans Medical Leadership Council, Veterans for Veterans, Phoenix Truck Driving School/DSW, and Catholic Charities.
The DNP team is proud to have supported such a meaningful event that directly impacts the community. Navajo Nation is stronger when our veterans are stronger. Connect with DNP to learn more about how you can give back to the Navajo veteran community by visiting our website and completing an online form: http://dinenaazbaapartnership.org/