Adopt-A-Native Elder Program Extends a Helping Hand to Navajo Elders

The Navajo Nation’s Adopt-A-Native Elder (A.N.E.) Program works to reduce poverty and hardship for traditional elders who live on the reservation. As inflation continues to increase the price of everyday necessities, food insecurity continues to rise on the Navajo Nation. 

Serving Navajo Elders living in Arizona and New Mexico, the organization delivers food, medical supplies, firewood, and other support twice per year. The program is organized in the Native American Spirit of the Giveaway Circle, following the tradition of giving the best that they have. Recipients describe the boxes of food and other necessities as “miracles from the sky.” The miracle is that the letters and gifts arrive from people the elders don’t know. 

If you’d like to help financially, several options are available. A gift of $50 provides yarn bundles for a weaver to make a small rug to sell. You can also purchase a weaver’s rug online any time, or during the 2022 Navajo Rug Show & Sale held online on Friday, November 11 at 6 pm MST. Many additional rugs, not currently displayed, will be available for purchase during this special event.

Also, $25 food certificates may be purchased and donated at any point during the year. A $200 firewood voucher helps an Elder to heat their home and cook meals. And a $300 adoption matches you with an Elder and provides your Elder with food for one year that A.N.E. brings during its twice-annual delivery to Elders. Financial donations of any amount can also be made online. All donations — 100 percent — go directly toward supporting an Elder. 

In addition, the program welcomes volunteers at its Salt Lake City office, 328 W Gregson Ave. Volunteers help out on Tuesdays or Fridays from 9-11:30 am. Activities include packing the food boxes and other necessities for Elders, along with seasonal activities like filling backpacks and Christmas stockings for school children. 

The Adopt-A-Native-Elder Program exists to create a bridge between Native Americans and other cultures. If you feel moved to donate your resources or time, contact the A.N.E. Program today to see how you can help to preserve the tradition and dignity of Navajo Elders. You can learn more by visiting their website or Facebook page for more information.

Navajo Nation

The Navajo Nation is truly an extraordinary and breathtaking nation within a nation. It is over 27,000 miles and covers over four states: New Mexico, Utah, Colorado, and Arizona. The Navajo Nation Parks and Recreation Department oversees all Navajo Tribal Parks in the largest sovereign nation in the United States. As a sovereign-autonomous tribal government, the Navajo Nation creates laws and governs its citizens – which means all non-Navajo travelers and visitors must comply with and abide by tribal regulations, policies, and laws. Their intent is the caretaking of Mother Earth, which Navajos respect at all times. Come experience the breathtaking views Navajo land has to offer.