On Saturday April 25, Flagstaff Veterans launched the “Veterans helping Veterans” drive and collected several thousand pounds of food, bottled water and household supplies and delivered them to the Navajo Leupp Chapter.
Coconino County Supervisor Jim Parks and his wife Vickie, and State Representative Bob Thorpe LD6 worked closely with Flagstaff Veteran officials John Davidson, Billy Weldon and Bob Rehm to organize the drive and collect the donations.
Thorpe said, “Many Navajo families have been hit hard by the Corona virus. It’s really important for Northern Arizona citizens to demonstrate charity and kindness by helping support our Navajo neighbors.”
Navajo Veteran Commanders Gilbert Chee and his wife Valerie, Richard David and Ray McCabe will organize Navajo Veterans to distribute the donations to needy families and elders in and around Leupp, Birdsprings and Tolani Lake Chapters, especially those hit hard by the Corona virus.
Navy vet Parks said “There is real need right now on the Navajo Nation. With Tribal authorities closing its borders on the weekends to help slow the spread of the Corona virus, it’s makes it that much more difficult for residents to drive into Flagstaff in order to purchase needed staples for their families.”
Saturday’s Flagstaff Veteran food drive will repeat again next Saturday May 2nd.
180 new cases and six more deaths related to COVID-19 reported as 57-hour weekend curfew is set to take effect pic.twitter.com/1nARn8wntP
— Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez (@NNPrezNez) April 25, 2020