So for the past several weeks it has been "all about me"...well, "us," anyway. Now, for a refreshing change. This past weekend we had the pleasure of helping our friends Anna M. Bennett and husband Rod, deliver food and clothing to the Hopi reservation in northern Arizona. This is my second trip with them as their truck driver. Also, this year, I was happy that Kaye could come along to keep me company in the cab and to help out.
Some years ago, Anna and Rod established the Buffalo Blessings https://www.facebook.com/buffaloblessings/posts/880056248674096?fref=nf a charity dedicated too providing food and clothing help DIRECTLY to the Hopi and Navajo peoples. They do this out of the kindness of their hearts, and with the help of volunteers. There are no administrative costs, paid staff, or any other superfluous expenses. 100% of the money raised is used to purchase food and other needed items for the people. Other donated items are also given directly to the people. They do not work through the tribal bureaucracy or any other governmental agency. Anna and Rod are extremely adept at squeezing the maximum value out of every dollar given to the charity so that the people derive the maximum benefit from the largess of others. We could use them in D.C. to help balance the budget.
Kaye wanted to come along because her service organization, ZONTA, had decided to help out Buffalo Blessings this year. I think that she also wanted to keep an eye on me. Probably, deservedly so. Anyway, ZONTA has helped out the charity, and I know that Anna & Rod are extremely appreciative.
This year's experience began in ernest on Thursday when I met Rod to pick up the biggest rental truck we could get. It was 26' long and 13' high, and had a 12,000 lbs capacity. We over-filled it, but Rod didn't tell me that until after I had driven it down to the reservation. Sneaky! We couldn't get a bigger truck because the village areas are too small to accommodate a bigger rig. Also, you'd probably need a commercial driver's license to handle anything bigger...I don't know.
The next stop was at a local supermarket where they loaded on four heavy pallets of potatoes, onions, and carrots. We then went to a storage facility where other volunteers helped with more loading of barrels of food bags and clothing. We also loaded Rod's large trailer with even more barrels. The truck was full...the trailer was full...and everyone was happy. No injuries were reported.
Early Friday morning, Kaye and I left for the approximate 500 mile, 10&1/2 hour drive down to the Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa in northern Arizona, our base of operations for the next couple of days. The poor truck strained under the heavy load and steep hills, but we made it. After checking in, we had dinner at the nice little Hopi restaurant attached to the Center's small motel, and then "crashed."
Saturday morning, the crew of eight headed to the village of Old Oraibi for the first food drop. Old Oraibi is purported to be the oldest continuously inhabited village in the US. The Hopi residents have opted to live there, as much as possible, in the manner of "the old ways." By choice, they do not have utilities in the village. Having dealt with my own domestic plumbing problems over the years, I have often felt that we erred in ever bring water into our homes in the first place. They may be on to something. But I digress. The Hopi people have asked that pictures not be taken in their villages, so what I have posted are from Google. We were able to provide sacks of potatoes, onions, rice, beans, oatmeal, clothing, storage bins, a few tools, and other items to 100 or so families in Old Oraibi. The Hopi people seem to be inherently happy, and they have a kind gentle manner. The appreciation they expressed to us is genuinely heartfelt and very touching.
Our next stop was at the Senior Center where we were able to provide them with some specially requested items, as well as a small barrel of salt and several heavy bags of an oatmeal type food supplement. Thereafter it was on to another village for our third food delivery of the day. This time it was on First Mesa, and located way up a winding road that clings to the edge of sheer cliffs. Truck driving fun...but the view is impressive. Again, we deftly unloaded a few thousand pounds of food and clothing to the village inhabitants. Some of these folks are elderly and/or have some physical limitations. In such instances, the volunteers carry their food bags for them to their respective homes. And again, we were the recipients of their warm appreciation.
After our third drop of the day, our "guide" and main contact guy, Aaron, invited all of us to his trailer for a late lunch. His wife and other family members had been up until the early morning hours preparing a feast for us. The eight of us sat down to a great meal of Hopi tacos, Hopi tea, and pumpkin pie. The base for a Hopi taco is a large piece of fry bread that you top with beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions, and salsa. Damn...I want another one!! All of this was washed down with Hopi Tea...a brew made from boiling and steeping a local plant, and then adding a touch of sugar to take away any bitterness. Another winner! NOTE: There is no alcohol allowed on the reservation...hence, no wine. Not a problem...we all survived, believe it or not.
So after that good day's work, we went back to the Cultural Center, grabbed a couple of hot showers, tried to read a bit, but faded away into our clean sheets and comfortable beds.
On Sunday morning, it was back to Another village on First Mesa where we made our final delivery to a village elders' home. Willis and Ina run a tight ship when it comes to making sure that the donations get delivered fairly throughout their village. This delivery is also a bit easier for us in that we don't have to hand out the individual bags of food. Rather, we unload it in bulk into Willis' poFch area, and then he and Ina take care of the distribution. Still, it took considerable effort to get everything off of the truck and to where it belonged. I note though, that the lifting, rolling, sliding, and carrying always seems to be a bit easier when I consider the purpose.
Ina wanted to have everyone stay and have lunch, but Kaye and I had a big breakfast just a couple of hours before hand, so we begged off. We also explained to Ina that we still had a 10 hour drive ahead of us, and that we didn't want to get home too late. She gave us some homemade bread to take along, and a couple of tamale style desserts that contained a sweet blue corn filling. Both of them wished us a safe journey, and hoped that we would return again next year. I think that will happen.
The 500 plus mile drive home was uneventful...which is just what we wanted. We got home about 2100 hours...almost an even 10 hours from when we left our Hopi friends. The last couple of days of hard work and exercise has finally gotten me back on track with my sleeping pattern. Our recent return from France had me all screwed up, as usual...but last night I got a good uninterrupted eight hours. Just what I needed. We are now well rested...and rejuvenated...in more ways than one. Thanks Anna and Rod for the opportunity to help out. We received much more than we gave.
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Some years ago, Anna and Rod established the Buffalo Blessings https://www.facebook.com/buffaloblessings/posts/880056248674096?fref=nf a charity dedicated too providing food and clothing help DIRECTLY to the Hopi and Navajo peoples. They do this out of the kindness of their hearts, and with the help of volunteers. There are no administrative costs, paid staff, or any other superfluous expenses. 100% of the money raised is used to purchase food and other needed items for the people. Other donated items are also given directly to the people. They do not work through the tribal bureaucracy or any other governmental agency. Anna and Rod are extremely adept at squeezing the maximum value out of every dollar given to the charity so that the people derive the maximum benefit from the largess of others. We could use them in D.C. to help balance the budget.
Kaye wanted to come along because her service organization, ZONTA, had decided to help out Buffalo Blessings this year. I think that she also wanted to keep an eye on me. Probably, deservedly so. Anyway, ZONTA has helped out the charity, and I know that Anna & Rod are extremely appreciative.
This year's experience began in ernest on Thursday when I met Rod to pick up the biggest rental truck we could get. It was 26' long and 13' high, and had a 12,000 lbs capacity. We over-filled it, but Rod didn't tell me that until after I had driven it down to the reservation. Sneaky! We couldn't get a bigger truck because the village areas are too small to accommodate a bigger rig. Also, you'd probably need a commercial driver's license to handle anything bigger...I don't know.
The next stop was at a local supermarket where they loaded on four heavy pallets of potatoes, onions, and carrots. We then went to a storage facility where other volunteers helped with more loading of barrels of food bags and clothing. We also loaded Rod's large trailer with even more barrels. The truck was full...the trailer was full...and everyone was happy. No injuries were reported.
Early Friday morning, Kaye and I left for the approximate 500 mile, 10&1/2 hour drive down to the Hopi Cultural Center on Second Mesa in northern Arizona, our base of operations for the next couple of days. The poor truck strained under the heavy load and steep hills, but we made it. After checking in, we had dinner at the nice little Hopi restaurant attached to the Center's small motel, and then "crashed."
Saturday morning, the crew of eight headed to the village of Old Oraibi for the first food drop. Old Oraibi is purported to be the oldest continuously inhabited village in the US. The Hopi residents have opted to live there, as much as possible, in the manner of "the old ways." By choice, they do not have utilities in the village. Having dealt with my own domestic plumbing problems over the years, I have often felt that we erred in ever bring water into our homes in the first place. They may be on to something. But I digress. The Hopi people have asked that pictures not be taken in their villages, so what I have posted are from Google. We were able to provide sacks of potatoes, onions, rice, beans, oatmeal, clothing, storage bins, a few tools, and other items to 100 or so families in Old Oraibi. The Hopi people seem to be inherently happy, and they have a kind gentle manner. The appreciation they expressed to us is genuinely heartfelt and very touching.
Our next stop was at the Senior Center where we were able to provide them with some specially requested items, as well as a small barrel of salt and several heavy bags of an oatmeal type food supplement. Thereafter it was on to another village for our third food delivery of the day. This time it was on First Mesa, and located way up a winding road that clings to the edge of sheer cliffs. Truck driving fun...but the view is impressive. Again, we deftly unloaded a few thousand pounds of food and clothing to the village inhabitants. Some of these folks are elderly and/or have some physical limitations. In such instances, the volunteers carry their food bags for them to their respective homes. And again, we were the recipients of their warm appreciation.
After our third drop of the day, our "guide" and main contact guy, Aaron, invited all of us to his trailer for a late lunch. His wife and other family members had been up until the early morning hours preparing a feast for us. The eight of us sat down to a great meal of Hopi tacos, Hopi tea, and pumpkin pie. The base for a Hopi taco is a large piece of fry bread that you top with beans, lettuce, tomato, cheese, onions, and salsa. Damn...I want another one!! All of this was washed down with Hopi Tea...a brew made from boiling and steeping a local plant, and then adding a touch of sugar to take away any bitterness. Another winner! NOTE: There is no alcohol allowed on the reservation...hence, no wine. Not a problem...we all survived, believe it or not.
So after that good day's work, we went back to the Cultural Center, grabbed a couple of hot showers, tried to read a bit, but faded away into our clean sheets and comfortable beds.
On Sunday morning, it was back to Another village on First Mesa where we made our final delivery to a village elders' home. Willis and Ina run a tight ship when it comes to making sure that the donations get delivered fairly throughout their village. This delivery is also a bit easier for us in that we don't have to hand out the individual bags of food. Rather, we unload it in bulk into Willis' poFch area, and then he and Ina take care of the distribution. Still, it took considerable effort to get everything off of the truck and to where it belonged. I note though, that the lifting, rolling, sliding, and carrying always seems to be a bit easier when I consider the purpose.
Ina wanted to have everyone stay and have lunch, but Kaye and I had a big breakfast just a couple of hours before hand, so we begged off. We also explained to Ina that we still had a 10 hour drive ahead of us, and that we didn't want to get home too late. She gave us some homemade bread to take along, and a couple of tamale style desserts that contained a sweet blue corn filling. Both of them wished us a safe journey, and hoped that we would return again next year. I think that will happen.
The 500 plus mile drive home was uneventful...which is just what we wanted. We got home about 2100 hours...almost an even 10 hours from when we left our Hopi friends. The last couple of days of hard work and exercise has finally gotten me back on track with my sleeping pattern. Our recent return from France had me all screwed up, as usual...but last night I got a good uninterrupted eight hours. Just what I needed. We are now well rested...and rejuvenated...in more ways than one. Thanks Anna and Rod for the opportunity to help out. We received much more than we gave.
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