Through the first of the new year, clothing donations are being accepted for Navajo and Hopi Families. The clothing drive is being organized locally by Leah Underwood on behalf of the Navajo and Hopi Families COVID Relief Fund.
Winter has set in, the holidays are coming to an end and now is the perfect time to clean out your coat closet and donate to those in need.
Chaffee County community members are asked to drop off warm winter youth gear including jackets, coats, hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, masks, socks and sweaters. The drop off location is located at 527 H Street in Salida. Those who wish to donate can drop off anytime. Donors can also call 719-221-5249 to donate.
The Navajo and Hopi Families COVID Relief Fund will also be accepting mail-in donations. Send your warm items to the following addresses:
Image by Charlize Branch. Courtesy of Navajo and Hopi Families COVID-19 Relief Fund.
U.S. 136 and MP 392
Old Kayenta Clinic Admin Bldg.
Kayenta, AZ 86033
or
PO BOX 712
Ganado, AZ 86505-0712
The relief fund was established on March 15, 2020 when former Navajo Nation Attorney General, Ethel Branch started a GoFundMe Campaign to raise money to assist Navajo and Hopi families with purchasing two-week’s worth of food to allow for self-quarantine and protection from the initial onslaught of COVID-19 cases. In many cases, those who live on the reservations have no running water, no central heating and lack the reserves to stock up on food to withstand a quarantine.
The GoFundMe campaign raised $5,000 by the end of the day back in March, and Branch then reached out to eight Navajo leaders for assistance in spreading aid broadly across the Navajo and Hopi Reservations.
The relief fund soon had a leadership team of 12 Navajo and Hopi women and one honorary member and key partner, Klee Benall of Kinlani Flagstaff Mutual Aid. The team raised over Five Million dollars on GoFundMe and formed Yee Ha’oolniidoo to manage the funds and provide further relief work.
As of September 21, the team and a legion of Navajo and Hopi volunteers all over the nation have provided food and water to roughly 30,000 households in over 80 Chapters on Navajo and in nine of the 12 Hopi Villages. The team is also handing out masks and hand sanitizer with their Kinship Care Packages. For more information, click here.
Recent Comments