Improving Lives on the Navajo Nation
A Bridge for Indigenous Veterans
NASVU is a collaborative project between The Veterans Medical Leadership Council (VLMC) https://www.arizonavmlc.org/ , and the Goldwater Foundation https://goldwaterfoundation.org/ . A veteran-led collaboration with the Southwestern Native American veterans’ leadership to create solutions to solve water, power, and housing sustainability as well as medical issues throughout the Native American Communities. Nearly 400 300-gallon water tanks have been delivered to Navajo and Hopi Nation locations obtained to help with that 30% who live off the water and electricity grids.
The project started in March 2020 with a request by a veteran’s group to assist with COVID19 response in the Navajo Nation for food, PPE, and other supplies. The leadership of the Chinle area veterans requested chainsaws to help veterans and elders to obtain wood to heat and cook. In collaboration with MDHelicopters: chainsaws, cleaning supplies, and PPE are delivered to the Chinle area veterans. Support to the local first responder community was added over time.
Solar and improving housing conditions program and a women veteran’s supply program was added with the delivery of one tractor-trailer load of clothing and other supplies were added.
Donations are accepted through the VLMC, Donate (paypal.com) and please designate Navajo Relief Fund during the transition time.
“The homeless in LA live better than many of our veterans on the Navajo Nation” Willis Bencenti, leader in Chinle
Veterans Helping Veterans
On a consistent basis Navajo Nation has limited water supplies, electricity and wood for heat and cooking. The health care is minimal at best. Jobs are scarce and at times our veterans are forgotten…we are doing something about it.
VMLC coordinates with the Navajo Nation to assist Veterans and their families with essential living assistance for water, power and housing. : The program was established in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. That initial outreach, supported by MD Helicopters and Jack Travis Trucking, resulted in the delivery of:
- 1,600 300-gallon water tanks for Navajo Veterans and their families who lack running water
- 52 helicopter loads of personal protective equipment (PPE), chainsaws for cutting home heating firewood, and toys for Veterans’ children at Christmas
- 14 solar refrigerators for insulin-dependent Veterans who lack the electricity required to keep their life-sustaining medicine at the proper temperature; we are planning to deliver at least 30 additional solar refrigerators in 2023.
Below is a list of short term needs shared by the leadership of the isolated communities.
A list of needs in the Navajo Nation isolated communities
Sanitation | Health Care
- Sanitizing Supplies (wipes, hand sanitizers, Lysol Multi service cleaner, Clorox, Laundry, Detergent, Spray bottles, Lysol Disinfectant Spray, antibacterial dish soap).
- Personal Protective Supplies (Latex gloves, Disposable Haz Mat Suits, Mask/ N95 Masks, Protective eye ware).
- Personal Hygiene Supplies (antibacterial liquid hand soaps, Shampoo/ Conditioner, tooth paste, tooth brush, Q tips, Listerine Mouth wash, bar soaps, feminine products).
Housing | Power
- Generator for Electric to run medical respirators when released from hospitals commercial refrigeration and freezer for storing perishable items for distribution Storage bins to store items Ziplock Storage bags. COVID 19 infected temporary housing while in quarantine Propane.
Water | Food
- Water (5 gal and 300 gal water barrels, water hose).
- Food (Meat, Non Perishables, and Fresh Produce).
- Essentials (Paper towel, Kleenex, toilet tissue).
- Diapers, Adult Diapers and Baby wipes or hygiene wipes.
- Pet Food (cat, dog) and Livestock feed (hay, grain, salt, chicken feed).