The Emergency Continues . . and St. Mary's Responds
Continuing its emergency food response to areas of Apache, Coconino and Navajo counties hard-hit by January’s record winter storms, St. Mary’s Food Bank coordinated with the Arizona National Guard to deliver more than 2,000 Emergency Food Boxes to Holbrook this weekend to help those desperately in need of food including those living on the Hopi and Navajo Indian reservations.
After sending more than 1,100 food boxes along with a truckload of water and produce to Chinle on Jan. 25-26 to meet emergency needs at the time, state officials contacted St. Mary’s on Jan.30 asking for further emergency assistance. The landscapes of the reservation have seen 5 to 8 feet of snow, making it impossible to obtain essential services and provisions for those unable to leave their homes and navigate roads obliterated by the melting residue of record snowfall.
The higher elevations received an additional 12” of snow from a secondary storm this past week and flood hazards are developing in the lower elevations. The National Guard was able to resume air operations in the area on Saturday when the storms finally subsided, and residents who have not yet been provided assistance are still being discovered.
Calling in all necessary personnel for emergency duty, the Food Bank also enlisted the help of dozens of volunteers to build the necessary Emergency Food Boxes for the five-hour trip to the north. Especially giving was a group of volunteers from The Arizona Republic, who quickly agreed to stay well beyond the originally planned time until all the food boxes needed had been accounted for.
Less than 48 hours after the initial call was put out, more than 2,200 Emergency Food Boxes had arrived at the Navajo Rex Fairgrounds for both ground and air distribution to more than 60 Chapter Houses along the reservation. This brings to total of number of boxes – which are designed to feed families for several days – to more than 3,300 over the last eight days.
St. Mary’s Food Bank remains in contact with all state agencies and stands ready to provide further assistance to this effort.
Continuing its emergency food response to areas of Apache, Coconino and Navajo counties hard-hit by January’s record winter storms, St. Mary’s Food Bank coordinated with the Arizona National Guard to deliver more than 2,000 Emergency Food Boxes to Holbrook this weekend to help those desperately in need of food including those living on the Hopi and Navajo Indian reservations.
After sending more than 1,100 food boxes along with a truckload of water and produce to Chinle on Jan. 25-26 to meet emergency needs at the time, state officials contacted St. Mary’s on Jan.30 asking for further emergency assistance. The landscapes of the reservation have seen 5 to 8 feet of snow, making it impossible to obtain essential services and provisions for those unable to leave their homes and navigate roads obliterated by the melting residue of record snowfall.
The higher elevations received an additional 12” of snow from a secondary storm this past week and flood hazards are developing in the lower elevations. The National Guard was able to resume air operations in the area on Saturday when the storms finally subsided, and residents who have not yet been provided assistance are still being discovered.
Calling in all necessary personnel for emergency duty, the Food Bank also enlisted the help of dozens of volunteers to build the necessary Emergency Food Boxes for the five-hour trip to the north. Especially giving was a group of volunteers from The Arizona Republic, who quickly agreed to stay well beyond the originally planned time until all the food boxes needed had been accounted for.
Less than 48 hours after the initial call was put out, more than 2,200 Emergency Food Boxes had arrived at the Navajo Rex Fairgrounds for both ground and air distribution to more than 60 Chapter Houses along the reservation. This brings to total of number of boxes – which are designed to feed families for several days – to more than 3,300 over the last eight days.
St. Mary’s Food Bank remains in contact with all state agencies and stands ready to provide further assistance to this effort.
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