Photo courtesy of Bethany Barnard's Facebook Page - Volunteers helping with last Friday's food distribution.
On the last day of the month, Friday, April 30, there was another food give away, this time it was located in Bay Center in front of the Chinook Indian Nation Office. Altogether 480 USDA food boxes, 1,800 plus bottles of hand sanitizer, and 150 steelhead were distributed.
The boxes contained meat, cheese, vegetables, and dairy products ensuring each family would have a couple of meals from the boxes.
"Growing up in a tribal community, we are raised to take care of our community and give until it hurts," said tribal community member Bethany Barnard. "Well today, the Chinook Indian Nation (CIN) demonstrated our teachings! We had Tribal Council-member, Bryon Davis, and CIN Natural Resources Food Sovereignty co-chair, Mugs Petit, and CIN NRFS Committee member, Audie Davis, helping with the food box and fish distribution."
"This distribution was significant to me as it was held on the traditional territories of my ancestors," she said. "My great-grandmother Ella Clark-Shaw was born on the Palix River. Today, I was able to honor my traditional name and teachings."
Continuing Barnard stated, "I want to acknowledge the many individuals and organizations that helped make today happen: Liliana Ayala, Denise Rowlett, Vail Ellingwood Stephens, Bobby Rodrigo, Bob Barnum, Ronica Minks-Dahlstrom, Robyn Ranee, Jennifer Stepp Mitchell, Maureen Petit, Bryon Davis, Audie Davis, Meggie Olsen Downard, Gunner Barnum, Elisa Barnum, Jacob Barnum, Levanda Olsen, Alia Stevens-Randall, Chuck Gurr, and Kristi Camen; Peacekeeper Society, Teen Advocacy Coalition (TAC), Willapa Behavioral Health, Chinook Indian Nation, Kiwanis of South Bend, ESD 113-True North; Crisis Support Network; and Raymond Elks #1292."
The giveaway was posted on several local Facebook pages including Barnard's page. Keep an eye out for future food distributions announced on Facebook. The Herald will repost any food distributions on their Facebook page when they are spotted.