Diné Ba'adeiti For The People: September Update
September was an exceptionally busy month for Diné Ba'adeiti For The People as we prepared for the seasonal transition and the increased need for firewood across the Navajo Nation. Recognizing that colder weather was approaching, we focused on sharing information about wood-cutting permits, upcoming community events, and available resources throughout the reservation.
September Outreach & Impact
Our team and partners worked tirelessly to ensure families, elders, and communities had access to firewood before winter temperatures arrived.
Wood Processing and Distribution Efforts:
•Delivered 10 cords of processed firewood to a partner organization in Tuba City.
•Delivered 70 cords of processed firewood to the Moenkopi community.
•Completed 43 deliveries totaling 86 cords of processed firewood as part of our 80 Elder Firewood Initiative, in partnership with local Community Health Representatives (CHRs) and Public Health Nurses (PHNs).
•Processed and prepared approximately 50 cords of firewood over four days for distribution at Canyon Vista Campground, where more than 80 vehicles were able to load and transport bucked firewood for their households.
•Advocated for and secured load-out permits from the San Juan National Forest to support our partnership with Winter Warriors, allowing them to host wood-hauling events near Cortez, Colorado that will benefit Navajo families.
•Delivered 10 cords of processed firewood to the Natah Foundation to support their community firewood distribution program.
•A Total of 226 Cords of Wood out to the surrounding communities.
Challenges and Ongoing Needs
While our outreach and distribution efforts continued to grow, we did not anticipate the significant increase in fuel costs this season. Rising fuel prices have had a greater impact on our operations than expected, limiting our ability to transport wood and expand services to additional communities in need.
To sustain and grow these vital efforts, we continue to seek grant opportunities and other funding sources. Unfortunately, crowdfunding campaigns and public donations have generated limited support thus far. As winter approaches, we are preparing to launch a dedicated fundraising campaign to help offset operational expenses and ensure we can continue providing firewood assistance to elders, veterans, and vulnerable families throughout the Navajo and Hopi Nation.
We are grateful to our partners, volunteers, donors, and supporters who make this work possible. Together, we are helping ensure that Navajo and Hopi families stay warm and safe during the winter season.
Ahéhee' for your continued support.
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