Well, here we go-strap your seatbelts on for a June Community Service Project. This suggestion, and it's a great one, came to me from Lori Dekker, a member of my Rotary club, Prescott-Frontier.
Let me start with a "Did You Know?"
- Did you know that on a per capita basis, there is more reported Covid on the Navajo Nation than in New York City?
- Did you know that the Nation has the densest outbreak in the country?
- Did you know 15,000 homes on the Nation are without electricity, accounting for 70% of all the homes in the country?
- Did you know that 86% of the homes have no natural gas?
- Did you know that 60% have no landline phone services?
- Did you know that the Nation lacks a 9-1-1 system?
- Did you know that over 30% of the residents of the Nation have no running water?
Speaking for myself, I find this almost inconceivable in our country today. It makes me both sad and angry!
So, Prescott Frontier Rotary is going to help and invites other current and past Prescott area Rotary members to join us! We are going to do a food/cleaning supplies drive for the Navajo Nation at Watters, from 9AM-5PM, Friday, June 5, Saturday, June 6, and Sunday, June 7. On Monday the 8th we will transport all the donated items to the Nation. I will be calling out for help in the next few days for volunteers for collections and transportation.
Here's the list of needs: non-perishable food items (same as the Community Cupboard drive); cleaning supplies include, but not limited to, liquid bleach, bleach wipes, Lysol spray (or something similar), Lysol wipes (or something similar), antibacterial soap, paper towels, and any other thoughts with regard to cleaning.
Fellow Rotarians, we CAN AND WILL make this happen! Start putting the word out to relatives, friends, neighbors. Word will go out through various media sources with help from some of our key members.
It looks like we will have a 20' cargo truck for transportation and possibly for collection. Let's fill it up!
In advance, many thanks.
Mike Payson, Prescott-Frontier Rotary Club