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Without the initial support of donors and the ongoing program partnerships with hundreds of agencies in the Southwest, thousands of Native American children each year would miss out on special holiday stockings from the Southwest Indian Relief Council (SWIRC) Program’s Christmas service.
One partnership includes the Chinle WIC (Women Infant and Children) program. This Program Partner helps families all year round with healthful choices for mothers and young children. According to the USDA website, “WIC program provides federal grants to the states to provide supplemental foods, health care referrals and nutrition education for low-income pregnant, breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding postpartum women and to infants and children up to age five who are found to be at nutritional risk.”
Given the nutritional status of our youngest citizens, this program is important because it offers children up to five years old and their mothers the chance to get a good start on healthy choices and nutritious meals. We are pleased to be able to give back to a program that supports the growing children of the Navajo Nation!
The planning for the holidays is year-round. Some Program Partners even send their holiday requests to the offices during the summer months so as not to miss out on the special SWIRC stockings. In the case of the Chinle WIC, it was more a holiday bag than a stocking! There was no way that the items selected could fit into the typical Christmas stocking. The contents included:
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- school supplies, including a calculator, to help replenish a dwindling stock for school;
- activity books to keep their minds sharp for when they return to school;
- gloves and socks to help take off winter’s chill;
- Band-Aids to help ease the pain of a small boo-boo;
- playing cards, stamp sets, sticker sheets and crayon books to help ward off boredom during a long holiday break;
- small charms and toys to expand their imaginations;
- a water bottle, lip balm, toothpaste/brush and a personal hygiene kit to stay healthy during the winter;
- magnets to hang up their artful masterpieces on the refrigerator door; and
- a stuffed animal to cuddle up to when a quiet hug is needed.
If that list wasn’t exhaustive enough, the parents were also given a bag of candy and peanuts to distribute as they feel most appropriate. The children also received a pair of shoes!
Because WIC serves infants as well, we did not let the little ones go away empty handed either. Items useful for baby and family included socks, bibs, lotions, diapers, baby blankets, toys, sanitizer, toddler toothbrushes, pacifier, bottle, formula, and a baby mat!
One of the staff members shared, “This is probably the only thing some of the kids will get for Christmas.”
Thanks to our generous donors, this Christmas was made a little easier and joyful for the participants of the Chinle WIC program!
Thank you!
