The Navajo Nation is being decimated by the Coronavirus with 85 deaths and more than 2,700 cases as of May 7. The country’s largest reservation spans Utah, Arizona and New Mexico. While the Navajo people try to flatten the curve, the need for resources is growing by the minute.
Bud Frazier is a proud member of the Navajo Nation and lives in Utah. It’s been hard to watch his relatives and others suffering on tribal land. After nearly two months, the Navajo Nation received $600 million from the CARES Act this week.
“Some of the messages I get are heartbreaking as far as what`s going on they haven`t received any help from the government. They haven`t received their stimulus. They lost their job,” said Frazier.
When we checked in with Frazier a few weeks ago he organized a small drive for families called, Navajo Strong. He was amazed at the outpouring of support from people all over the state.
“We`ve had some people in Ogden they`re taking a trailer down for us. We`ve had people in Enterprise Utah, they dropped off a huge load to a small community in Arizona called Kaibeto. People will just pull up to our house and unload their Suburban with hundreds of dollars of supplies.”
Frazier and volunteers have made three trips to Navajo Nation and he’s gearing up for another one this weekend. He has dropped off care packages to 100 families – many who have no running water or electricity.
“It`s really fulfilling especially as we`re leaving if they have a cell phone service and say thank you so much, you`ve helped out a lot. One of the messages said it felt like Christmas when they opened up the box,” said Frazier.
As long as the donations keep coming in, Navajo Strong will continue to serve the Navajo people.
Some of their biggest needs are food, water, cleaning supplies like bleach and sanitizing wipes, toiletries such as hand soap and sanitizer, and personal protective equipment such as masks and gloves.
There’s also a form you can fill out, requesting a care package for a family member in need in Navajo Nation.
If you would like to help support the Navajo Nation, you can donate here.
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