Partnership With Native Americans

Food on the Table is a Basic Human Right

Partnership With Native Americans® (PWNA) is a 501 (c) (3) nonprofit committed to championing hope for a brighter future for Native Americans living on geographically isolated and impoverished reservations. PWNA is a top-rated nonprofit with BBB accreditation and Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic & Social Council. All year long, we provide goods and services to Tribal programs in underserved reservation communities. More than 90% of our Tribal partners say they are more effective with PWNA support. And with nearly 35 years of working in Indian Country, we’re very good at providing the right goods in the right way and time for each community.

That’s why this Arizona Gives Day, we will be providing emergency food boxes to more than 1,500 Native American Elders across Arizona and New Mexico. 

Food on the table is a basic human right, but it’s not that simple for the people we serve. Did you know that 1 in every 4 Native American families faces food insecurity? That’s higher than any other population in the U.S. 

Low food security has impacted Native American Elders and families for decades, fueling high rates of nutrition-related diseases such as diabetes and obesity because less expensive foods tend to have more fat and carbs. In addition, the U.S. Department of Agriculture shows many Tribal communities are “food deserts” devoid of fresh fruits and vegetables. That’s why 51% of Native residents travel off-reservation for grocery shopping. 

Food hardship has also increased – it's the inability to afford enough food for yourself and your family. So, demand at local food banks has increased and become an ongoing need for more families, especially Native American Elders. In fact, it was only during the COVID-19 pandemic that more Americans began experiencing food insecurity and then realized for the first time what Native Americans have been up against for decades.  

So, this Arizona Gives Day, we hope you will join PWNA and its Navajo Relief Fund™ (NRF) program in putting food on the table for the Elders, easing food insecurity, and remembering Native Americans.

More about PWNA: 

Our mission/vision: Serving immediate needs, supporting long-term solutions for strong, self-sufficient Native American communities. Our programs address immediate needs related to food and water, health and wellness, K-12 education, disaster relief, holiday support, and animal welfare. Additionally, PWNA’s long-term solutions are building capacity and developing community leaders who can drive social change for their tribes. Every day, we are changing Native lives. And every year, up to 200,000 Native Americans welcome relief from the day-to-day symptoms of poverty. To learn more about our impact, visit https://nativepartnership.org/reports.

Testimonials

We've known about PWNA for some time but didn't know if we would qualify. But they accepted us immediately. They always come through when we need supplies to make healthy meals for our seniors in and around Walthill. We are so grateful every time we receive a shipment of food or emergency boxes. Their help during COVID was… a light in the darkness, and their staff and even the drivers are kind and caring. What a wonderful nonprofit that we are so fortunate to be working with. – Walthill Senior Center Tribal Partner

Although early in our partnership, we have already seen the tremendous impact PWNA has on the Native American community. Everyone we have worked with at their locations throughout Arizona has been extremely professional, appreciative, and always working toward getting the best supplies and service to the people that need it the most. I take great pride in being a food-related partner with this group that has positively affected the lives of so many. The work they do is unmatched and the care they deliver is greatly revered, especially in these troubling times. - U.S. Foods