Indian organization delivers supplies to Navajo Nation amid coronavirus

PHOENIX — A Valley organization delivered supplies to the Navajo Nation, a community hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, on Friday.

Phoenix Indian Center dropped off three truckloads of crucial items to the community, including 750 masks, 15 pallets of nonperishable food, 5,000 cases of water and 200 boxes of nitrile gloves, the organization said in a press release.

Hundreds of Valley residents and dozens of businesses contributed to the donations over a period of six days, according to the Phoenix Indian Center.

“We are so grateful to everyone who came out in support of the Navajo Nation, we are truly overwhelmed with emotion,” said Patricia Hibbeler, CEO of the Phoenix Indian Center said.

“Due to curfews designed to slow the spread of the virus, many people can’t go out and get what they need. And 30% of households don’t have running water. These donations will make a huge difference in the lives of the Navajo people.”

As of Friday, the tribe reported 127 deaths and 3,740 positive coronavirus cases since it first began tracking the figures. More than 500 people have recovered, tribal health officials said. There were no new deaths reported on Friday.

On the Navajo Nation, residents will face citations, with potential fines and jail time, if they leave their homes during the lockdown, which started Friday night and ends Monday around dawn.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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