WINDOW ROCK, Ariz. — Running Strong for American Indian Youth and Navajo Hopi Honor Riders joined forces to provide school backpacks and supplies for students this fall.
On Aug. 25, the Honor Riders came together to organize eighty backpacks with school supplies already inside each bag. Running Strong had already purchased the backpacks and it was up to the Honor Riders to disseminate them throughout Native communities for students who needed them.
“Running Strong’s mission is to help American Indian people meet their immediate survival needs — food, water and shelter — while implementing and supporting programs designed to create opportunities for self-sufficiency and self-esteem,” said indianyouth.org’s website.
The Navajo Hopi Honor Riders board decided to divide the backpack giveaway into two Sundays, which allowed families who didn’t get a chance to pick up their backpack on Aug. 18 to make plans to come to the Navajo Nation Fairgrounds in Window Rock Aug. 25. Over 160 backpacks were given away on both days combined.