Called to a New Mission: Local Veterans, Nonprofits Lead Local Relief Efforts for Elders & Families in Need.
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May 27, 2020 - For local veterans鈥攎any of whom are UNMGallup students or alumni鈥攖he recent COVID-19 pandemic has brought an unwelcomed sense of isolation that has persisted over the past several months due to stay-at-home and other public health orders in McKinley County and the Navajo Nation. 鈥淚 rely on staying busy and active as a way to combat Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD),鈥 says Christian Vasquez, who serves as vice president of the UNMGallup Veterans Resource Center (VRC) and co-founder of the local nonprofit Strengthening Nations. 鈥淭his pandemic has taken a mental health toll on veterans because it has cut off a lot of resources that were available to socialize and engage in personal self-development.鈥
While the pandemic has impacted veterans through this isolation, it has also provided a unique opportunity for Vasquez to join with other veterans in the area, including VRC president Eric Thomas. Together, Vasquez and Thomas have reached out to veterans locally to seek their service once again鈥攖his time as volunteers at Strengthening Nations, which was founded by Vasquez and Pat Nelson to provide supportive and advocacy services to domestic violence survivors; but has recently transitioned into a resource and distribution center for food and supplies for those less fortunate in our community.
鈥淲e get these huge food trucks鈥攍iterally a whole semi full of supplies鈥攁nd local veterans have shown up to unload the supplies. We have to sanitize and package everything. We break the flour, rice, and beans down from 50-pound bags into 5-pound bags,鈥 explains Vasquez. 鈥淭he number of veterans who have stepped up is amazing, and they always show up and say: 鈥楬ey, where do you want me? Let鈥檚 do this.鈥 It鈥檚 just amazing how they鈥檝e stepped up and helped out.鈥
It鈥檚 what veterans do, according to Thomas. 鈥淲e signed up to help people,鈥 he explains. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 a motto that we continue to live up to鈥攅ven with each other at the VRC. We still help each other out, whether it鈥檚 giving a ride home, helping with homework, or other types of help someone needs. We still have our community here, and that鈥檚 why I decided that partnering with Strengthening Nations would be beneficial to our community.鈥
When speaking with Vasquez and Thomas, their brotherhood and sense of service is palpable鈥攁nd it鈥檚 easily apparent that their shared mission to help the local community and the Navajo Nation with food and other resources is a mission they take seriously. Since March, they estimate that over 800 boxes have been distributed鈥攏ot counting all of the baby supply kits and individual cleaning supplies Strengthening Nations and its teams of volunteers have assembled.
Strengthening Nations also collaborates with and supports efforts of Indigenous Life Ways and its McKinley Mutual Aid health and help network that brings food and supplies to elders and families in McKinley County. 鈥淲e鈥檝e also served the Navajo Nation, and we鈥檝e taken boxes down to Zuni. Strengthening Nations has a large client base that are veterans, too鈥 adds Vasquez.
Our community of veterans stepping up to serve those in need during this pandemic鈥攁long with these area nonprofits鈥攊s truly the inspiration that we all need at this time.
If you鈥檇 like more information on the efforts or organizations mentioned in this article, feel free to contact or research:
Eric Thomas
UNMGallup Veterans Resource Center
eqthomas@unm.edu
Christian Vasquez
UNMGallup Veterans Resource Center & Strengthening Nations
chrisvasquez@unm.edu
Indigenous Life Ways
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